If this was suppose to take him deep waters then he was no good in the first place. Rodriguez aint no rigondeaux, a hamed, MAB, Morales or prime Donaire. The lower weights have very low talent pool but every now and then stars rise and you can easily spot them. Inoue is one of those guys, but the guys he's been beating including the champs are C level guys. Case in point, a shot donaire who couldn't hang with Walters is in the finals of WBSS. The real test for me is if he steps into FW, that's the big jump, some decent guys there. Or even fight a genuinely skilled, ATG level skill guy like Rigo (A- level) at 122 as shot as he is. I'd like to see him against Frampton (B level) and GRJ (B level) at 126. Who has Rodriguez really beaten to have him rated that highly? He barely got by Moloney and Moloney himself is a C level guy.
I agree. I feel like Loma is the next evolution in boxing. And the fact that both Loma and Usyk are both in the top 5 using the same style tells me that. Now imagine that style was taught to millions of boxers with much greater physicality than Usyk and Loma, how much better they would be?
Exactly. You mention his flaws but I've yet to see him box long enough to know what they are! I really thought Rodriguez would put up a much stiffer test and we'd get the chance to see what Inoue has in his locker when the KO doesn't happen or if the power carries through all the way to the 12th, but no, he got blown away like everyone else. He's a force of nature at present. Tsunami would be a better nickname than Monster...
New???? Nothing has changed in a bunch of months, how can Inoue just enter into your top p4p spot now??? He's top 5 for me, why couldn't he be just that much bigger. Urggggg
It’s obvious why Inoue has caught everyone’s attention but he’s not better than Loma. Not trying to rain on his parade, he smokes everybody he steps into the ring with, I can’t help but notice that he literally jumps in and out all the time, someone will make him pay for this. And his monstrous power seems more like 40% power, 60% awesome timing. He’s a force to recon with but nowhere near Loma or other greats in terms of ability to box.
A prime and rampaging Nonito couldn't do anything with Narvaez. No hate on Nonito, but that's a fact. Narvaez was slightly older, but a much younger Inoue (of himself) decimated Narvaez and remains the only person to stop him. Tete bested Narvaez in a stinking affair and never hurt him. Adrian Gonzalez was the man in the division and Inoue smoked him as well. Rodriguez, by ALL accounts, is a fundamentally and technically above average world class fighter. That's why he was pegged as the man to take Inoue deep. Rodriguez is like Kell Brook in a way. Many had Kell Brook as a premier Welterweight before and after he won a close decision over Porter. Inoue smoked him. Inoue would KO Rigondeaux, Frampton, and Russell Jr.. And keep in mind that Inoue hasn't even reached his ceiling. Like I said before... If Inoue's chin is granite (he looks to be very sturdy as no punched landed on him has yet to make him even flinch), he's going undefeated for a very long time.
Not disagreeing with you, but Rigo & GRJ aren't dumb or macho enough to try TRADING with Inoue the way Rodriguez did... He was actually trying to walk the Monster down lol. The Rigo fight would be interesting as he'd have to deal with a technical guy who plays it safe and boxes on the back foot.
Inoue's an exceptional boxer. He has demonstrated this. Just because they won't trade doesn't mean Inoue won't catch them. Rigondeaux is been hit w/ flush shots by way lesser men. Russell Jr. also gets hit and isn't some defensive maestro.
Good post. There is no comparison between Loma and Inoue. Lomas skills are far superior. But lnoue us a devastating fighter no doubt. Rodriguez fought the wrong fight, completely. Standing in range like a fool. Forgetting his boxing skills. Etc etc That said he was much bigger yet Inoue's punches still had a devastating effect! I don't know where the power comes from. He is so small hand do slightly built. Sensational....but let's keep it real here, nowhere near as good or as purely skillful as Loma.
I'm am super happy that I can now say that I've seen the monster in the flesh. Glasgow give him a massive welcome as we all knew we were about to watch a super star. He really is frightening
Awshhhh those body shots! How many Inoue opponents end up screaming in pain? That's the advantage of a body snatcher: if you're hurt upstairs you cover up protecting your face by instinct. Inoue didn't bother landing upstairs, but finished the fight with two vicious body blows. Wicked.