Naoya Inoue isn’t excited by transferring as much as 126 after his seventh-round knockout of TJ Doheny on Tuesday evening on the Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) made his second protection of his undisputed tremendous bantamweight title in opposition to 37-year-old Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs), whose again gave out on him throughout the seventh spherical. It wasn’t what Inoue did that ended the combat.
Is Inoue Avoiding More durable Fights?
Doheny’s again couldn’t deal with all of the leaning that he was doing to keep away from Inoue’s punches and finally froze on him. After the combat, it was discovered that Inoue, 31, shall be staying at 122 and plans to defend in opposition to his IBF necessary Sam Goodman on December twenty fourth in Tokyo.’
While you see Inoue preventing guys like Doheny and Luis Nery and focusing on the sunshine hitter Goodman, it’s arduous to not conclude that he’s avoiding the more durable fights. If Inoue have been excited by preventing more durable guys, he’d have already moved as much as 126 earlier this 12 months, and he wouldn’t be planning to combat Goodman.
“You name him ‘The Monster,’ and also you anoint him as this mythological particular person, and then you definately count on him to go up in weight and combat everyone on a regular basis,” stated commentator Chris Algieri to the Inside Boxing Stay YouTube channel, speaking about Naoya Inoue wanting human in his combat in opposition to TJ Doheny on Tuesday evening.
Inoue solely moved up in weight 4 occasions, and he’s now the place he ought to have been from the beginning of his profession. He’s at all times big for the 112, 115, and 118-lb divisions. He’s now preventing guys his dimension at 122, however the division is so totally barren of expertise that Inoue wants to maneuver as much as 126.
The Worry Issue
All of the proficient fighters are in that weight class as a result of there’s no level in preventing at 122. In any case, the one man there price preventing is Inoue. He received’t combat them as a result of he’s too busy being selective.
“It’s at all times, ‘What’s subsequent? Transfer as much as 126.’ Guys, he’s human. He’s preventing at 122. He’s under-sized; he’s a smaller man. It’s his fourth, and he’s nonetheless stopping all these guys. For the size of his profession, transferring up and preventing larger guys with extra expertise, however he’s nonetheless stopping them,” stated Algieri.
Followers need to see Inoue transfer as much as 126 as a result of that’s the place all of the proficient fighters are. If the 122-lb division have been as effectively stocked with high quality fighters because the 126-lb division is, followers wouldn’t be badgering Inoue to maneuver up. 122 is stuffed with older fighters, and followers need Inoue to maneuver as much as 126, the place he’d have an infinite provide of nice fights.
“Granted, he’s not mowing guys down with one-punch KOs like he was doing at 118 and 115, however he’s human,” Algieri continued about Inoue. “He’s going to say no. He’s 31 years outdated. He says he needs to do two extra years at this weight class [122].”
What’s Algieri speaking about? Inoue is already exhibiting a decline within the energy and hand pace division. We noticed that in his fights in opposition to Doheny, Marlon Tapales, and Luis Nery. Like many fighters who decelerate after they attain their 30s, Inoue is starting to indicate indicators of slowing down, and that’s age. Inoue’s followers may not like listening to it, however they have to face the reality.
‘Monster’ Inoue is getting outdated and able to be overwhelmed. Therefore, he’s but to indicate curiosity in preventing Murodjon Akhmadaliev or transferring as much as combat the younger lion Bruce Carrington, who’s ready to devour him at 126.
That’s why Inoue is selecting to remain rooted to the spot at 122, selecting the sunshine hitter Sam Goodman for his subsequent combat on December twenty fourth. Inoue is not prepared to take dangers. Worry has set in and has obtained Inoue by its clutches. He can’t break away and isn’t even making an attempt. It will take {an electrical} prod to maneuver Naoya out of his hunker to face skills like Murodjon and Carrington.
Questioning His Personal Skills
“I at all times say, ’33 is that magic quantity.’ 33 is when guys actually begin to dip. Inoue has obtained a few years left. I noticed an interview on ESPN about what he’s going to do subsequent, and he was questioning his personal potential to maneuver up [to 126]. I’d by no means heard him do this in an interview,” stated Algieri.
Inoue’s supposed remark questioning his potential to maneuver up would possibly clarify his reluctance to maneuver as much as 126 after he completed his objective of changing into the undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion final December together with his victory over Marlon Tapales. Followers had anticipated Inoue to maneuver as much as featherweight after that win, however he didn’t. As a substitute, he’s stayed at 122, preventing Luis Nery and Doheny.
Giving Followers What They Need?
“So, I feel that’s actually indicative, and I feel it exhibits at 122. You see these guys. They’re simply larger individuals than him. These followers which can be knocking him for being human. It’s loopy. You’ve obtained to have a look at his profession in totality and perceive that he’s giving followers what they need by preventing stiffer challenges in larger weight courses,” stated Algieri about Inoue.
Followers would disagree with Algieri’s remark about Inoue giving them the fights they need in larger weight courses as a result of they didn’t need him to combat the washed Luis Nery or TJ Doheny. These have been Inoue’s infants. He needed these fights, not the followers.
Followers needed Inoue to combat these fighters:
- Murodjon Akhmadaliev
- Bruce Carrington
- Rafael Espinoza
- Jesse ‘Bam’ Ridriguez
- Gervonta Davis
- Nick Ball
