Most important fight for Naoya Inoue's resume: Bam, Nakatani or Espinoza

made this prediction a year and a half ago. rolling along like i saw it going back then.

 

I will rate his career more highly if he beats Espinoza, so for me it's the best win. I'm not sure if he'd beat Espinoza.

 

Espinoza is the biggest but definitely not the best. The challenge here is size only, not skill.

Bam is possibly the most skilled, but he is too small at this time. If Bam wants to age Inoue out while he fills out, and then fight him late 30s, and Inoud beats him, that would be a good win. If Inoue beats him now, people will **** on the win due to the size difference.

Nakatani would be a good win. The guy is talented and has run through most of his competition. I think Inoue handily beats him and shows how good he is, which is basically pfp1/2 with Usyk.

 

Inoue's brother is not atINaoya's level. Inoue has also fought much better opponents. So, if you are implying that Inoue's opponents are being paid to take the loss, i haven't seen it in the fights, but i guess it is possible, albeit without evidence. Also, Naoya's fights are not like Canelo v Kovalev, the opponents appear to be trying and throwing punches with intent.

 

At the moment it’s Nakatani for sure, Im really looking foward to that fight

 

Bam fought and knocked out Sor Rungvisai. He’s felt power.

 

Rafael Espinoza is by far the most solid name of the list. (No matter before or after Nakatani).

But we have to be honest Inoue is coming from 108 lbs and he is a real 108 lbs in amateur boxing, he's not a true 126 lbs. I have a hard time believing he's moving up again for the five times, especially since he himself admitted yesterday that he's giving up a little bit boxing with age. Besides, he hasn't been winning many knockouts or stoppages since he moving up to 122 lbs for the last three fights it was on the decision, and he's almost 34 years old already...

Rafael Espinoza at 126 lbs is the biggest 126 lbs in history, he shouldn't stay there longer and after Figueroa I see him moving up.In any case, it is very unlikely to happen, whether it's Angelo Leo or anyone else.


Junto Nakatani is by far a better boxer than Jesse Rodriguez and Bruce Carrington. Perhaps Raesse'Aleem would be a better choice for Inoue, but we're back to the same point: Inoue shouldn't and isn't a 126lbs boxer. It's like calling Carlos Adames or Alimkhanuly up to light heavyweight to fight Jai Opetaia. In theory, they might beat some good light heavyweights, but the fights would be purely in dream because it will never happen.


At 122 lbs after Nakatani to be honest maybe only Sebastian Hernandez Reyes / Carl Jammes Martin are still good challenges for Inoue (Jesse Rodriguez but the guy will just make his first fight at 118 lbs yet so in my opinion he will always refused that fight and we have no proof that Jesse Rodriguez will be better than Seiya Tsutsumi in Bantamweight category...).


At 126 lbs there is a lot (but for me in dream) like Rafael Espinoza (the first premium choice), Dayan Gonzalez (probably the second most dangerous in the category), Ra'eese Aleem, Bruce Carrington or Angelo Leo (but this one is only interesting if he will keep his IBF Belt against Ra'eese Aleem and to be honest I don't think).

I says dream because in Featherweight Inoue will make only one or two fights and will be retired that's almost sure. (And the second option is that he will never moved up because as I said he's coming from 108 lbs after all).