Naoya Inoue’s ability to adjust and overcome adversity is impressive

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, May 4, 2025.


  1. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,346
    26,787
    Oct 12, 2010
    Time after time again Inoue’s shown that he doesn’t despair, panic, fall under pressure, and lose his cool to the point of crumbling or retreating as the fight goes on. Fights with Donaire, Tápales, Nery, and now Cardenas have shown that when Inoue is forced to bite down hard he’s dangerous even when hurt or dropped. He chooses not to run or play it safe when the going gets tough. His ability to adjust immediately just shows his level of ring IQ and professionalism. That’s a sign of a great fighter.

    He’s definitely a flawed fighter but you can’t deny his skills, composure and his ability to still find a way to win and close the show in emphatic fashion.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2025
    Flo_Raiden, May 4, 2025
    Flo_Raiden, May 4, 2025
    #1
    Trigger92, AdamT, Overhand94 and 11 others like this.
  2. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    12,944
    15,002
    Jan 13, 2021
    He is a true great
     
    MarkusFlorez99, May 4, 2025
    MarkusFlorez99, May 4, 2025
    #2
    Trigger92, SpeedKills, yaca you and 1 other person like this.
  3. Brighton bomber

    Brighton bomber Loyal Member Full Member

    31,217
    29,227
    Apr 4, 2005
    Yeah he's always been able to adapt mid fight and find a way to get back on top when he's struggled. While he isn't without flaw, nobody has been able to find anything that works against him consistently because he is able to adapt and change what he is doing. It's going to take a special fighter at his own weight to really test him, which we don't seem to have, which is why we'll only really see Inoue tested once he's fighting guys with significant size and weight advantages.
     
    Brighton bomber, May 4, 2025
    Brighton bomber, May 4, 2025
    #3
    Trigger92 likes this.
  4. Smoochie

    Smoochie Indiana Jones and the Harry Greb Footage Full Member

    1,596
    1,724
    May 16, 2024
     
    Smoochie, May 5, 2025
    Smoochie, May 5, 2025
    #4
  5. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    10,014
    18,951
    Jul 25, 2015
    Top post flo.

    In my opinion Inoue needs to start adjusting his style. He's getting into his 30s so his reactions will slow somewhat and going up in weight where his power won't bail him out as much. Honestly, the recipe is there for a T/KO loss at some point. He has the bad habit of pulling away from hooks instead of blocking or rolling under them. It worked at lower weights when he was younger but it will leave him vulnerable as he goes up imo.
     
    roughdiamond, May 5, 2025
    roughdiamond, May 5, 2025
    #5
    Trigger92, Smoochie and Flo_Raiden like this.
  6. PistonHondai

    PistonHondai Member Full Member

    497
    337
    Jun 3, 2019
    Why did he get KD twice with the same punch from two fights? Why didn’t he adjust after the first time?
     
    PistonHondai, May 5, 2025
    PistonHondai, May 5, 2025
    #6
  7. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    17,346
    26,787
    Oct 12, 2010
    I'm on the same boat as well. Inoue has managed to get away with his technical mistakes for awhile but it's starting to catch up to him now that he's slowing down. Although I did notice that after getting knocked down he now sees the hook coming and starts rolling under them more times after he fires his punches. He's able to switch things up when he sees what's working and not working. Defensively speaking he can be hard to hit when he decides to box safely and at a distance. It's when he's overly aggressive and too eager that makes him the most vulnerable and that's something he'll have to start fixing when he fights the top fighters at 126. A more tight defense and more restrained approach when on the offense is Inoue's best chance at success.
     
    Flo_Raiden, May 5, 2025
    Flo_Raiden, May 5, 2025
    #7
    Trigger92, JunlongXiFan, Smoochie and 1 other person like this.
  8. oiky

    oiky Gypsy Boy Full Member

    4,545
    1,599
    Jan 17, 2014
    Inoue is just a joy to watch, he has most of the attributes that makes a fighter an exciting watch.

    One of the true 'enjoy him while he is here' fighters.
     
    oiky, May 5, 2025
    oiky, May 5, 2025
    #8
    Trigger92, JunlongXiFan, Smoochie and 2 others like this.
  9. Aitche

    Aitche Member Full Member

    187
    116
    Mar 25, 2019
    Incredible or what? 2025 has its first great fight. No one saw that coming... except for maybe Timothy "You know" Bradley! :) He saw that the champ leaves his side wide open for a correctly-timed countershot when he's going for one of his monsterous knockouts!
    Ramon Cardenas, lost like everyone before him, but he should still surely be proud. He knocked down the Monster! i was sooooo shocked, as were we all. But Inoue made the adjustment and never got caught by that shot again, no matter how many times Cardenas threw it again and again!

    It wasn't a flash knock down either! Inoue was seriously hurt. It looked like we were about to see another Sebastian Fundora or Anthony Joshua... or Mike Tyson!
    That's why you don't "bet your house" on a fight, even if the odds are an unheard of -6500.

    What a come-from-behind that was! The unofficial card even had Naoya Inoue losing. He may be unbeatable, but even he has weaknesses! The safe bet is his corner team will have him working on that.
     
    Aitche, May 5, 2025
    Aitche, May 5, 2025
    #9
  10. humbug

    humbug In Vino Veritas Full Member

    1,861
    764
    May 1, 2006
    “The unofficial card even had Naoya Inoue losing.”

    Be more specific.
     
    humbug, May 6, 2025
    humbug, May 6, 2025
    #10
    Smoochie likes this.