Is Naoya Inoue The GOAT If He Becomes Undisputed At 122 And 126?

I can see him cleaning out 122. 126 he is a better fighter than all of them but the size might come into play. I could see him easily out boxing a guy like Leigh Wood though

 

As GOAT as a fighter realistically can be. It doesn't make him completely without argument the GOAT, but he'd be a top contender for the title. I'm already a fan so I would definitely call him the GOAT if he did that.

 

Hed have a good case. But thats easier said then done. We dont know what struggles he will have when he starts fighting the big boys.

 

My ranks for probability (from a guy with a 45-6 prediction record) of the current 122 and 126 champs:

1. Luis Alberto Lopez 100-0: He's shorter than Inoue and less skilled with no power.
2. Fulton 100-0: He has no chance vs Inoue. His reputation is manufactured to create a super fight vs Inoue. I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I actually watched him fight.
3.Leigh Wood 85-15: Inoue is better defensively and is more skilled offensively, but Inoue remarked that he could feel Wood's power. Wood was similarly praising of Inoue though, and this was while Inoue was still having to make 118. Wood's chances come from the fact that he is so much larger that combined with his power, he could make it difficult for Inoue to close the gap.
4.Murodjot Akhmadaliev 75-25: Akhmadaliev is very good with range and can actually punch when he has range. It's hard to imagine this won't challenge Inoue. Still, he leaps into crosses a lot, which is a very bad idea against a counter puncher with genuine one punch power. Also, he is super weak (and open) to the body, which is horrific vs the most notable body puncher in boxing history.
5. Rey Vargas. 60-40. Vargas has good range management and is good with his jab, plus responsible defensively even when he doesn't have range. If he didn't have a weak chin I'd probably pick him to beat Inoue, but he gets knocked over almost every time he fights somebody decent. He couldn't take 122 fringe contender power without getting dropped. Also dropped four rounds to a really unskilled (but huge) boxer in Magsayo.
6. Navarrete 50-50. At 122 I was picking Inoue. Now I'm split. Navarrete is very fluid, large, has a good chin and good range management. The one saving grace for Inoue is that Nav is often very open and likes to leap in. If Inoue's power carries to 126, he should stop him. If not, Nav will win.

 

I remember when people talked about Chocolatito running through the weight classes and he stopped at 115. I think Inoue will have success at 122 but no 126. He also needs to be more active now because 2022 wasn’t good enough in terms of the rounds he fought. If Top Rank promote him correctly he can become a big star. I’m not sure if he knows English but speaking English to the media will help with that.

 

That would be a very good achievement but I'd say no. His list of best wins just simply wouldn't match up with the main goat candidates.

 

This ^^^ is perfectly said.

 

I never said he couldn't do it.

 

Not really because I think that he can do it and that the only thing stopping him would be boxing politics. I just don't think it would make him the goat.

 

Also I'm assuming you mean that it hasn't been done before in the four belt era. For example Henry Armstrong was the undisputed champion at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight at the same time and he did this by defeating three different hall of fame champions. If someone became undisputed at three different classical eight weight classes at the same time while beating hall of famers today, my jaw wouldn't just drop, it would hit the core of the earth.