Jiro Watanabe vs Naoya Inoue

Hard to stay as we don't know the limit of Inoues abilities yet.

But I suspect he might well be the best fighter we've ever had at 118.

 

Come again?

 

Hard to stay as we don't know the limit of Inoues abilities yet.

But I suspect he might well be the best fighter we've ever had at 118.

 

I doubt it. He’s fantastic but he’s also much bigger than other 118 guys in addition to which he went life and death with a washed up weight drained Donaire. I don’t see Jofre, Zarate, Olivares right in the middle of their primes being that vulnerable. Not always the best gauge to go off one night but he’s still way off the discussion of all-time greatness.

 

If we talk about early version of Watanabe (with great footwork, angles and discipline) it would be very good technical/tactical match up. I see UD victory for Naoya, Who never once let me doubt in any of his fighter's qualities

 

The question isn't whether they'd be that vulnerable or not.

It's whether they'd beat Inoue or not.

Right now it's hard to say because as you said, he's probably in the middle of his prime right now.

 

I'll take Jiro, he's simply better IMO, and would bring an educated pressure which is probably the best in the division's history. Inoue is live, though. He's clearly bigger and is a little southpaw killer, he could win this himself.

 

I will say this: Gilberto Roman’s title win in Japan against Watanabe is one of the greatest victories ever scored by a Mexican vs. a foreign opponent.

 

All the guys I mentioned would beat him. Like I said, if a borderline washed up and weight drained Donaire (who was never as good as those three in his prime even) can crack his face and go life and death than he’s not looking too hot with Jofre or Zarate.

 

I think a prime Donaire beats him.

 

Me too.

 

This is why I say we don't know.

Inoue is 19-0 and has had 4 fights at BW.

There is not a single man on your list of 3, who was considered the best BW of all time at 19-0 or 4 fights into their BW career.

Every great has fights where they struggle, every great has fights where they look out of this world incredible.

But like I said, it isn't about what Donaire can do, it's about what Inoue can do. And right now it's too hard to say.

In fact Inoue himself has proven this. Before the Donaire fight it was a given Inoue would smash Donaire into retirement. Now that fight has happened we can see it wasn't the case and it was competitive.

Inoue is 19-0, only 27 and has had just 4 fights.

We simply don't know enough yet.

 

Neither is Inoue.

This is true, but when the fighter who's being called great struggles and/or looks poor vs their best opponent, it's not a good luck. Especially when their best opponent is a 37 year old guy who's best days were 10 years ago.

Well, we know he can't put away Donaire. We know he also has major problems with him. He'd also probably lose to a prime Donaire, or at least show that's his level.

 

Exactly that's the point. No one knows yet.

Inoue won the fight, as I said, many many greats have struggled in fights, its boxing.

We don't know he'd probably lose to a prime Donaire. Althout at BW Donaire looked unreal in his prime but that's another thread.

Inoue could go unbeaten for the next 10 years, he could lose his next 10 fights.

His situation is very much a dynamic one.