Naoya Inoue not waiting on Bam before moving to 126; makes February 2027 deadline

It makes business sense and allows time for exposure to the casuals. This can be legitimately sold to them. So this offers an opportunity many fighters spend entire careers waiting for. The winner would be universally set in stone as the #1 p4p fighter in combat sports.
This is skill, technique and execution at the highest levels. You can sell this to even those with even a passing interest in combat sports.

 

I disagree. Everything you see on social media is leverage moves in negotiations. You don’t get these type of opportunities in boxing very often. 99% of boxers never do. The fighters might not understand the entirety of what’s at stake, but their handlers and promoters surely do. No way this fight doesn’t happen. Right now it’s just a matter of fighting over the details. It benefits Inoue to have it as soon as possible before Bam peaks and Inoue slides, and it benefits Bam to wait a bit longer and let Inoue start to age out.
I think any time next year would still be fair to both. It’s going to get made and it’s going to break viewing records for fights below feather.

 

Bam isn't that small of a guy. He has fought as high as 126 pounds in the past (albeit very early in his career), and in almost all of his fights, he has had a clear size advantage. So there isn't much of a weight difference.

 

inoue should change his ring name from "monster" to "Cirrhosis" for all the liver damage he is responsible for.

 

The great thing about fighters like Inoue is they like taking risks and challenging themselves they are not concerned with stacking the deck in their favor. Fans like you are the problem you think taking risks and a loss is a bad thing.

 

I personally don't see fight happening if its by early next year. Bam is not ready for 122. Inoue wants to fight at 126 soon and time is not on his side. Bam's team would be crazy to make a fight at a weight he hasn't fought at.

 

I don’t think it’s a bad thing, it’s just going too far, Inoue is too small for 126. He’d probably beat most of them though Shu shu could def pose big problems, but Espinoza I don’t see many avenues of victory for him. It’s kinda just silly to keep going up until you get beaten. Bam and Inoue are way closer in size than Inoue and Espinoza and Bam had a massive youth advantage over Inoue. It’s good fair fight.

 

Inoue is doing the right thing. Bam, or his team, aging Inoue out, is a low act, particularly when he keeps calling Inoue out. Now or never. If never, we know Bam's intentions, which align with some of his opponents thus far.

 

Like I said in my OP Bam is trying to age Inoue out. Obviously I'd rather see him fight Bam while the fight is there but if Bam won't step up I like that Inoue will seek out more challenges.

 

Nayoa needs to fight people his own size instead of trying to get smaller fighters to move up

 

I'm pretty sure Bam has a better resume