Naoya Inoue is CLEARLY P4P #1 and an ATG boxer

P4P #1 for sure. Just beat an undefeated P4P opponent and still showing why he’s a level above his competition.

 

Usykaa #1

Very feel

 

Undisputed number one pound for pound and one of the best to lace them up.

 

Inoue didn’t look that good in a fight that many expected to be competitive and dangerous for him? In a high stake fight against an unbeaten opponent who is clearly the biggest puncher he’s fought since Donaire? I would expect Inoue to be far from perfect in a fight of this magnitude. And he still managed to win clearly.

 

Inoue won it 9-3 on my card. Hard fought but clear victory. Still a level above the competition. But he's declining. I had my suspicions since MJ, but it's confirmed now.

His stamina looked worse than ever today. He's 33, an age where most lower division fighters are seriously starting to slow down, and it's clear time is catching up to him. A good deal of his punches in the later rounds were very uninspired, some were outright sloppy. He has never looked so amateurish for such long stretches of time. I think his late round KO ability has basically abandoned him.

Not to mention, he's recently been in this weird state where his intentions clash. He's wanted to outbox his opponent these past few fights, and to avoid being reckless in order to not get dropped on the way in again like with Nery and Cardenas. But then his fighter instincts kick in, and it's like he cannot fully commit to either. Too cautious when he wants to Box, to the point where he throws away offensive opportunities and limits himself to single shots or the 1-2, and too undisciplined when he wants to fight.

He put on a jabbing masterclass early on, and then he just kinda abandoned his jab and was walking forward with a high guard hoping he can avoid shots and counter, in a very late career Canelo-esque way. No setting up shots, not trying to create openings by taking any initiative. Just "walk forward, and hope you can counter". That approach, alongside his slight drop in foot speed really got him lit up in the 10th. His combination punching has suffered too.

He got away with it as he put on a very smart performance for the first half of the fight, and he's so physically gifted he could just out-punch Nakatani, but the quick transition to such a wild, undisciplined approach was shocking. He's still a beast, but his sun is starting to set. Unless he figures some stuff out and adjusts, he could really struggle if he moves up to Featherweight.

 

that is normal considering he is above his weight

 

Prime Inoue wins every round against Nakatani

 

Usyk doesnt gain anything with those fights
He should go down 3 weights and then prove something

 

He's 33 and clearly not at his prime but still good enough to be the best fighter in the world. If I was managing him I would have him face Bam then Espinoza and then retire as one of the best ever

 

What, are you crazy, when Usyk drops down to light heavyweight, then we can talk

 

That's the way to go, plus someone like Nick Ball who still gets murdered by Inoue. Make him fight as often as possible to get the most out of him before he really starts to slow down and have him retire by 35 or 36.

 

Yes he does. Debt matters.