We all know about Inoue missing out on the big fights at 115 whether it was due to lack of money or WBC politics, but both Estrada and Cuadras were top 10 in the WBC and WBO rankings during Inoue's time there. I know Estrada fully committed to the WBC route since there was more money to be made fighting for it on HBO rather than the high risk, low reward option in Inoue, but I'm curious if Inoue ever sent them a formal offer to make a defense against. I know Chocolatito turned down Inoue's first offer and then failed to hold his side of their pre-arranged deal to unify by losing to Rungvisai in the rematch. I also know that Rungvisai ducked Inoue by willingly choosing to defend his belt against his mandatory in Estrada when Inoue was still available for a fight before settling on Boyeaux. Also doesn't help that Rungvisai defended his belt afterwards against cans in Thailand instead of ever trying to make the effort to unify.
Not sure this can be a reasonable thread tbh. It kinda escaped mainstream attention at the time as everyone was obsessed with Cuadras, SRR, Estrada and Gonzalez. So only the Inoue defenders really know enough about it and their posts are agenda driven.
I need Takuma to take the challenges his brother missed for a reason or another tbh, in that way he might come out his shadow more.