2022 is a perfect year with Naoya Inoue. In June, Mr. Ha Ko Ko Donaire in the second half to unify the three WBA, IBF and WBC belts. By the beginning of December, he continued to defeat Tko Paul Butler in the 11th half to collect the missing WBO belt, thereby becoming the absolute Bantamweight Champion.
Commenting on the victory of Naoya Inoue, Bob Arum said: “I think he will abandon the championships he is holding. All the target of Inoue in the Bantamweight weighs has been achieved, so he will promote the higher weight class to play as Super Bantamweight.”
Looking at the past, Inoue showed that he did not lose too many difficulties to adapt to new weight classes. Japanese boxers have won the world championship in the Light Flyweight and Super Flyweight. In addition, he also understands the information about the super bantamweight boxers, because his younger brother is playing there.
In case of unifying the professional belts in the weight of Super Bantamweight, Inoue needs a few boot matches to target. This weight class has two champions, Stephen Fulton (WBC, WBO) and Murodjon Akhmadaliev (IBF, WBA Super). They are all unbeaten fighters, possessing all achievements.
From the perspective of Bob Arum, Inoue will not lose many difficulties if they play. He asserted: “I have not seen any boxer capable of defeating Inoue. He plays beautiful, fast, strong and effective.” But the weight always brings unpredictable effects, and Inoue needs to be careful to do this.
List of Naoya Inoue's Boxing Champions:
– Light Flyweight: Japanese championship, OPBF, WBC
– SUPER FLYWEIGHT (Junior Bantamweight): WBO championship
– Bantamweight: WBA (Super), WBO, WBC, IBF