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

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, Nov 26, 2025 at 6:39 AM.


  1. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Out of the 3 fighters that people are wanting Inoue to fight in the future which fight would be the most important for Inoue's resume on a legacy standpoint in your opinion?

    According to Ring Magazine Bam is currently P4P #4 while Nakatani is P4P #7. Bam is 2 weight classes below and Nakatani has just made his move to 122. Espinoza is the biggest fighter out of the lot and although he isn't in the Top 10 P4P list he's considered the top dog at 126.

    Nothing is guaranteed but I can see Inoue facing all 3 of them before he retires. Winning all 3 fights remains to be seen. But if Inoue actually manages to beat any of these guys in the future which victory would be the most beneficial to his resume and also the deciding factor of having him as possibly P4P #1 in your view?
     
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  2. PthePuncher

    PthePuncher New Member Full Member

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    Nakatani. It would cement him as the GOAT in Japan. Bam is still a smaller guy with some weight classes to jump. Espinoza could be replaced by any other decent 126 title holder as far as the accomplishment of winning a belt at feather.
     
  3. ManOLantern

    ManOLantern Actual Junkie Full Member

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    Bam is the biggest fish, the only one that would for sure separate him from Bud and Usyk.

    Bam is a bona fide hall of famer at 25, and skyrocketing up the P4P list like you said. A win over Bam would almost definitely end up being the crown jewel of Inoue’s resume.

    Another positive is that Bam is an American fighter known for being highly skilled. Some people still try to discredit Inoue by saying he only beats tough but unskilled Asian and Latino fighters who brawl. Hard to make that argument against Bam if you’ve actually watched him; he is Mexican-American but has clearly evolved his style beyond the stereotypical Mexican brawler style.

    Nakatani would ofc be a massive win too. He’s also a P4P talent, but if you notice some fans are already trying to elevate Haney over him on the list after one good win. I don’t agree with that at all, but it just shows that Junto isn’t properly respected in the US. You won’t find anybody trying to say Haney should be ranked over Bam. But Nakatani vs Inoue is gonna be the most iconic Japanese fight ever and would also be the best win of Inoue’s career so far.

    I think Espinoza is a great fighter and would also be a better win than Fulton. But I just know if Inoue folds him people are gonna say he’s just a freakshow who wasn’t that good, even though in the literal sense of pound for pound he might actually be a more impressive win than the other two.
     
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  4. MetalLicker

    MetalLicker I Am Full Member

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    All these guys are P4P talents.

    Espinoza would do most for his career because he's the biggest challenge by far. I'm kinda sure that Inoue would beat Nakatani and very sure he'd beat Bam, but Espinoza is a stylistic nightmare.
     
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  5. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Still on the fence with this. Out of the 3 I think Bam could put Inoue into the P4P #1 spot due to name and ranking but I still think Espinoza is the biggest threat out of the lot even though he’s not ranked higher than Bam or Nakatani.

    It would be quite an achievement if Inoue manages to beat those 3 fighters and still becomes undisputed at 126. Might have a serious argument in being considered one of the very best of this generation. But time will tell.
     
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  6. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    This but beating Espinoza won’t be great for him historically
     
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  7. LoveThis

    LoveThis Sweet Science Full Member

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    Personally, I have considered him one of the best of this generation for quite a while. He is outstanding in a way few are.
    If he was american and a few weight classes up, most would have him p4p #1 with his technique and offensive approach and success in his fights.
     
  8. PIPO23

    PIPO23 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Nakatani or Bam.Back to back.That would be awesome.Perhaps a trilogy in the making.Good fight and match up.Bam skills is immense but he is the smaller man.Nakatani can bang and has the reach and height advantage possiblly the most dangerous right now .
     
  9. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Right now Nakatani. If he beat Bam many would discredit it with Bam moving up two weights. It would be if they met in the middle.
     
  10. Bokaj

    Bokaj Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    If he does that he will be the best of his generation for me. Unless Crawford beats the top dogs at 175 lbs or Usyk continues to dominate HW for a long time.

    But that is extremely unlikely to happen. Usyk will probably at best beat Kabayel and another top contender or two. Crawford is probably looking to have one more big pay day against Canelo and then retire. He knows he'd most likely lose against any of the top 3 at 175 and Ennis isn't enough money for the risk.
     
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  11. Dorrian_Grey

    Dorrian_Grey It came to me in a dream Full Member

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    Nakatani. Junto is the best of the three, it would be a mega-event in Japan, and there wouldn't be any arguments about Inoue beating a guy who is either smaller than him, too young, or who's been through too many wars. Espinoza would be an impressive victory largely because of the massive size disparity, but also because Espinoza is a high-quality operator. Bam has proven his quality, but is a smaller guy than Inoue still (or at least would be perceived as much, he probably walks around at the same weight as Inoue).
     
  12. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    Inoue doesn't need anything to prop up an already top notch resume. However, of the three listed I would say Espinoza would do the most for his resume. Espinoza may be the lesser of the three fighters but winning a title in another weight class would do a bit more for Monster than beating two guys who would be coming up in weight to fight him.
     
  13. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Espinoza much bigger, undefeated big puncher, #1 ranked at 126, Inoue becomes a 5 weight champ

    Bam-Rod, not much smaller, undefeated big puncher, a victory over him would be over a fellow top 4 ranked P4P opponent, fellow multi-weight champ

    Junto, not sure how much he rehydrates but I should imagine there isn't much in it at all size wise between Inoue and him, undefeated big puncher, ranked #7 P4P, fellow multi-weight champ. Massive fight in Japan and Asia with bragging rights on the line, both are Yakuza affiliated with and have worked as enforcers for the Yamaguchi-gumi clan
     
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  14. LoveThis

    LoveThis Sweet Science Full Member

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    Where did you get that yakuza stuff from?
     
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  15. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    With nicknames like The Monster and Big Bang how can you not affiliate them with the Yakuza??

    But on a serious note, he's just joking. Only Japanese boxer that has actually been connected with the Yakuza is Jiro Watanabe.
     
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