Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani & Takuma Inoue vs. Kazuto Ioka + Jin Sasaki vs. Sora Tanaka RBR.

Definitely has rewatch value and there's a lot to appreciate even during the first 6 rounds. Very high level stuff from both guys even though Inoue definitely got the better of it for most of those rounds. I was shocked how some people were trashing the fight just because they were hoping to be an all out slugfest when these guys are very technical fighters.

 

Sean Zittel's take on the fight is pretty bad. The second video is even worse and had me facepalming. This Rahim guy is not only calling the fight crap but keeps insinuating that Inoue is probably taking something during the fight that helped him rejuvenate in the last rounds.

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good analysis, i agree with what they saw. benavidez is the same way as inoue in how their offense makes up much of their defense, because opponents tend to shell up when these 2 guys go on the offensive. thats another reason i think bam will do well against inoue. bam wont shell up, he will sidestep or dip and counter, which will disrupt monsters offense and force him to defend or reset. i hope that deal gets made soon cause it will be as good as boxing gets.

 

If you take p4p literally instead of ranking fighters by accomplishments, Bam would be at the top of my list.

 

as far as the art and science of boxing, there is no more complete fighter in the sport today than bam. some can match him in skill perhaps, but they dont have the youth, or power, or aggression, or iq, or something else that they lack to make them the same level of complete. its hard to even find rds bam has lost in his career, that's how dominant he is. i said a couple years ago that he would fight and beat inoue in 2027 and become p4p #1, and i am still confident in that prediction. i also mentioned what the excuses would be, which will start once the fight is signed, if they havent started already.

 

Inoue might not have youth on his side now that he's 33 but he still has speed, power, aggression and especially the ring IQ that makes him dangerous for anyone including Bam. Let's also remember that Bam had a bit of trouble with Israel Gonzalez and also got knocked down against Gallo. But saying that he's definitely very well rounded, skilled and rarely loses rounds.

I'm glad they're actually making this fight happen. It's now or never between the two and it'll be a beautiful to watch. I still think Inoue still has the edge just based on how well he does against southpaws but I'm also ready to give Bam his praises if he proves everyone wrong. If Inoue does manage to beat Bam there should also be no excuses as well.

 

bams footwork is more advanced than inoues, and his awareness of angles is also more developed. he also has better stamina at this point, and his use of pressure is more intelligent. inoue has better power, and i suspect a better chin, although bams chin has never been truly tested. monster is also more athletic. inoue has more experience, but bam has looked more dominant against the elite, who were past prime, but so was nonito. all in all, i think its a fair enough fight if made in 27, as bams size would be reasonably offset by inoues age.
i dont think any excuses can be made no matter who wins, both are proven elites, both are confident in winning, and both know enough about the game to understand if they arent up to the task.
if it goes like i think it will, these guys can make more money than any fighters under 130 have ever even come close to making.

 

There is a real bias against Inoue in Western media, especially in the US. No other country in the world feels the need to compensate for not having a fighter at the top of the P4P rankings in the way the American boxing media does. Sean Z can blow hot and cold; his takedown of Dana White was legendary, but he also picked Jake Paul to "surprise people" against Joshua because Joshua was chinny. One of the worst takes I've ever seen.

I genuinely believe that if Inoue were from inner-city Chicago or New York, they would assess his fights in a completely different way and talk about him alongside Mayweather. I've said this before, but it again backs up my point.

The insinuation that Inoue is on something when he has been registered with VADA since 2022 and has never missed a test, never mind failed one, is absurd. Rahim blows smoke up the hoop of fighters who have failed multiple tests, showing there's an agenda at play. Perhaps the fact that Japanese boxing does its own thing, maybe. They don't kowtow to lazy Western journalists, and Inoue is shut off to these types of journalists, creating a disconnect, but if that's what it is, then the lack of impartiality is also a concern.

The main takeaway is that Inoue is undeniable; his skill level is so remarkable that even casuals often comment on how good he is. It is lazy journalism, but the facts speak for themselves. Once he beats Rodriguez, they're going to be running out of bull**** to throw at him, and one day they will all have to look back and reassess these ridiculous comments.

 

It's funny how they insinuate Inoue is a cheat whilst they pander to guys like Fury, Benn and Canelo, actual proven drug users, and guys like Crawford and Haney, who work with Victor 'master of steroids' Conte.

Boxing media has been a straight joke lately. If you don't have A-side bias, or in this case western bias, they'll try and deny you as much as possible.

 

Have a speedy recovery Champ. You’ll be back.

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What a warrior. We've seen multiple fighters in recent years quit to that, but this guy fights to the finish.