There's just no challenge left at 118lbs. Oubaali? Nery? Tete? All would be massive underdogs. So how do we like the Monster's chance against the belt holders at 122: Navarrete (WBO) Vargas (WBC) Román (IBF & WBA super) Figueroa (WBA regular, formerly interim) ...or top contenders? Rigondeaux (Vargas' mandatory) Akhmadaliev (Román's/Figueroa's mandatory) Iwasa (Román's IBF mandatory) Tapales (Navarrete's mandatory) Moving up and grabbing a strap there would mean Inoue becomes Japan's second ever 4 weight division champion after Kazuto Ioka.
I'd like him to stay at bantam... Fight Nery then step up... I'm not arsed about fighting tete anymore sadly... I'd rather tete fight donaire and if he wins then have a pop at the king. I think navarette would be an absolute pain in the ass for inoue but I'd love to see it Haven't seen enough of vargas or roman to comment on how a fight with them would go
I don't think he should be rushed just yet, he needs to clear out Nery, Oubaali, Tete and then move up if no other challengers. I do see him eventually moving up in the future, only question is if his monstrous power can still carry him up in weight. I'd say him going up to SBW is inevitable.
Dont really know this division, but if its decent, he might have troubles if he trades with bigger guys, like he traded with Donaire
Nery vs Inoue is an extremely juicy fight and one that needs to happen before he moves up. The Japanese never forget and Yamanaka was a legendary champion in Japan until Nery absolutely destroyed him yet failed a drug test in the first fight and missed weight the 2nd. Nery also has to avenge his bro's loss and pick up that green strap to be the first unified bantamweight champion with 3 or more belts.
Inoue is not a fighter with exceptional defence or speed, fighters like him aint doing great moving up, unlike the likes of Toney, Mayweather, Pac and Lomachenko, but maybe i am wrong.
I mean, Pacquiao started in roughly the same waters as Inoue and moved up (and carried his power up) plenty... and his defense is hardly anything to write home about. He is fast, though. Of course, I'd argue that speed is hardly a weakness of Inoue's - but yeah, not as prominent a trait as his power, and probably not in that "exceptional" stratosphere like Pac's was.
If Inoue starts moving up after clearing BW I would like Inoue to test the waters by facing Rigondeaux. Would be a good start for the weight.
He should clear 118 first for that historical prestige. You never know, he might actually be better after this bout and moving up in weight / not draining. Remember Hasegawa winning the 126 strap after being starched by Montiel? That could happen (though I personally feel Hozumi was the more talented, but fragile, fighter, but that's a different debate). And that experience with Nonito today will only allow him to realise and tighten up his boxing IMO. He has time.
