How Do You Beat Naoya Inoue?

I think the last guys to disrespect Inoue were Fulton and Payano. Fulton even stepped on his foot a handful of times.

 

You’re right, I don’t really agree with the brain damage guy above (no offence, it’s his username) who says fight the way Douglas fought Tyson. That was not what I was trying to describe but I think you understood.

The general way to beat most power punchers like tyson, is to pressure them and keep pushing back, not letting them set. as you mentioned in your post, this wouldn’t work with inoue, his feet are too quick and so is his range

the straight or overhand right you mention are important against inoue as after his combos he sometimes goes back in straight lines, or stands with his hands fairly low.

a b-hop sort of style would work against him, but definitely need well timed combos.

 

The more I've thought about it and the more I've rewatched some of Inoue's fights the less conviction I have in my original analysis. Upon review, I don't think a backfoot heavy counterpunching style is the best way to handle him (unless you've got a significant height and reach advantage over Inoue!). Inoue explodes off his combos and throws em while moving forward and he's so quick with it [stepping in]. You can't let him take ring dominance in the centre of the ring. It has to be contested. You can still deploy a counterpunching style but it has to be in the pocket. I still standby 1-1-2 being the key combo to land and open Inoue up, as well as feints/catches and slips followed by overhands, backhands and hooks. One thing I noticed, which is easier said than done, is that you really have to throw with Inoue, if he's throwing a jab, you have to mirror him and you can't stop at just single shots because neither does he. You have to combo punch. He's quick as lightening though! Wide stance, probably not advisable if your contesting centre ring. The lead hand position I'm still high on.

I can definitely see a bhop style working, so know what you mean.