Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas & Rafael Espinoza Zepeda vs. Edward Vazquez - Round by Round.

Agreed, it does shows a level of over confidence and complacency. Inoue's chin and powers of recovery have possibly saved him twice already against Nery and Cardenas and that might be OK at 122 but at 126 I think it could be far more costly. A loss maybe coming at 126 and that might be a good thing, if he can bounce back from it and become an even better fighter.

 

Texas will probably be the last state to allow it. To many bible thumper here.

 

My bad. that was badly worded, wasnt intending to throw shade at Cardenas in anyway.

I wanna watch him against Tapales now. Both on the inside swinging.

 

I get what you are saying. I just don't want Inoue to leave anything on the table when he does eventually retire and we be left with unanswered questions as to how good he really was.

Yeah Loma does get unduly crucified because he campaigns above his best weight and his two losses at 135 have come at guys that even moved up in weight afterwards, so he was clearly, hugely outsized. Maybe the same will happen with Inoue but I'd rather that be the case than be left with the question of what if he had tried to go to 126.

Luckily we shouldn't have to wait too long to see how he does at 126 as it's already on the cards with the Ball fight likely being next if Inoue beats Akhmadaliev. Personally I think Inoue can go into be the dominant guy at 126 but it wouldn't shock me if he lost his 0 at 126. But I'd have confidence he could come back and beat whoever beats him, he has shown the ability to adapt and I think is ring IQ is high enough for him find other ways to win if what he usually does, doesn't work.

 

Inoue is good, but he's very lucky the talent pool is as shallow as it is in his weight classes, because more talented fighters would sleep him.

 

Premature stoppage..that pissed me off.

 

Bit harsh for just one post. He's allowed an opinion. If he kept posting in the same sarcastic manner all the time on different threads then I get it but yeah. Seen worse from a lot on here.

 

How's this for a Devil's advocate take:

Inoue went "life and death" with a cabdriver.

 

Sleep him is an exaggeration but no doubt he's around in an era devoid of any real threats. We were spoiled for choice when we had Pac, Barrera, Morales and Hamed at 122-126.

But Inoue can only beat what's in front of him and is willing to jump weights to look for more challenges, with the plan to go to 126 for Ball then come back down for Nakatani and is fighting Akhmadaliev next. So in his next 3 fights he is going to fight the best available contender at his weight, one of the best champions and The Ring number 3 at 126 and then finally the The Ring number 1 at 118 at 122. So you can't say he's taking it safe.