Naoya Inoue-Paul Butler Undisputed Bantamweight Championship Set For 12/13 In Japan!!!

NAOYA INOUE Q&A – PART ONE: NONITO DONAIRE, POUND-FOR-POUND RANKINGS, PAUL BUTLER

Ring Ratings Panelist and veteran sports writer Daisuke Sugiura recently returned to his homeland where he sat down with Japan’s biggest boxing star, Ring/WBC/WBA/IBF bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, for an exclusive interview at the three-division titleholder’s gym.

At the time of the interview, Inoue had advanced to No. 1 in Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings off the strength of his stunning second-round stoppage of future hall of famer Nonito Donaire in their anticipated June rematch. Their first fight was Ring Magazine’s 2019 Fight of the Year and Sugiura was interested in reviewing Inoue’s toughest battle to date, as well as the sensational rematch knockout.

With award-winning photographer Naoki Fukuda on hand, Inoue and Sugiura discussed the two bouts with Donaire, the pound-for-pound rankings, and the upcoming unification bout with WBO beltholder Paul Butler for the undisputed bantamweight championship.

Regarding his No. 1 pound-for-pound ranking, which made newspaper headlines and major network news broadcasts, Inoue made it clear that he believes he’s got more work to do to solidify that lofty status.

“Everyone has their own opinion and evaluation,” Inoue said of the mythical rankings. “Even now, I don’t think I’m the true No. 1. There was only one vote difference (between me and Usyk among the Ring Ratings Panel), right? If I can produce a performance that widens that gap, I think I will be able to proudly say that I am No. 1 in the world. But, still, the pound-for-pound rankings are filled with incredible fighters. I am very proud to be recognized as the top fighter. As a Japanese bantamweight, I think I should be really proud that I was declared the best among them all.”

Inoue also refuses to overlook Butler.

“I read a story that Donaire is advising him to move around, use his jab, utilize his speed, and lateral movement,” said Inoue. “If Butler does that, I think it will be a long battle. A lot of people think I’m a quick KO puncher, always knocking opponents out in the early rounds, but I’m actually not a hyper-aggressive fighter, so I’m going to have to figure out how Butler will come out and how we’ll engage.”

Read on for the full interview transcription, translated by Sugiura. In part two of the KO Magazine-style Q&A, Inoue talks about his aspirations to move up in weight to the junior featherweight division where elite-level showdowns with Stephen Fulton and Murodjon Akhmadaliev await.

RingTV (RTV): You said that your performance in the Nonito Donaire rematch was close to your best. Why do you rate it so highly?

Naoya Inoue (NI): I was obviously satisfied with my performance. The training camp went well and I was able to control my mental side well too. Compared to my previous fight against Alan Dipaen, it was almost night and day.

RTV: Were you able to do what you wanted during the fight too?

NI: Yes, I was. The way Donaire started to fight in the opening round was exactly what I had envisioned.

RTV: But you didn’t think you would KO Donaire that fast, did you?

NI: I had a hunch that it would be faster this time. I thought it would be a quick fight if Donaire came out aggressively. I was very conscious of my defense. Donaire, on the other hand, doesn’t have a very high guard. I thought it would be quick if I could fight the way I wanted.

RTV: For a lot of people, that rematch result was what they thought would happen to the first one.

NI: Same here. In the first fight, I was planning to fight like I did in the second one.

RTV: Was the problem in the first fight the injury to your right eye?

NI: That injury was everything. Also, my weight recovery didn’t go as planned. I gained only about 3kg (6.6 pounds) by the time of the fight day weigh-in. My movement itself in the fight wasn’t bad, but I hadn’t fully regained my weight, and I couldn’t produce the destructive power that I had in the second fight.

RTV: How badly were you hurt in that ninth round in the first fight?

NI: I was really hurt, like I never experienced in my career before. The left hook in the second round wasn’t that bad, it just broke my right eye, but the right hand in the ninth round really hurt me. That was the only anxious moment I ever experienced in my professional career.

RTV: Back to the rematch. How serious was the left shoulder injury you suffered before that fight?

NI: It wasn’t bad enough to affect my performance. It was not something that hindered my punch output either. It’s just that a little injury can be stressful before and during the fight. I was frustrated with it.

RTV: In your autobiography, you wrote that when you face your opponent in the ring, you can roughly get a feel for his strength and conditioning. How did you feel about Donaire’s condition that day?

NI: I think it was good. His sense of distance was perfect. He was reacting to my punches well too. Donaire was aggressive, so the fight ended up like that, but I don’t think his conditioning was a problem for him.

RTV: So, were you satisfied with the Donaire rematch because you dominated a well-conditioned, legendary fighter?

NI: Yes, indeed. I thought there was no point in beating Donaire, who is now 40, by using my physical strength (gradually over the distance). (The early KO) meant a lot because I defeated Donaire while he was still very sharp.

 

RTV: After the fight, you were declared No. 1 in the Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings. How do you feel about being recognized as the world’s No. 1 boxer?

NI: Everyone has their own opinion and evaluation. Even now, I don’t think I’m the true No.1. There was only one vote difference (among the Ring Ratings Panel), right? If I can produce a performance that widens that gap, I think I will be able to proudly say that I am No.1 in the world. But, still, the pound-for-pound rankings are filled with incredible fighters. I am very proud to be recognized as the top fighter. As a Japanese bantamweight, I think I should be really proud that I was declared the best among them all.

RTV: Were you surprised that you became the new pound-for-pound king after the Donaire rematch?

NI: No, I wasn’t surprised. I thought it would be possible if the fight and my performance were evaluated properly.

RTV: How did you find out that you were declared No. 1?

NI: I got a LINE message from my manager Mr. (Hideyuki) Ohashi and found out. I thought it was possible, but it didn’t hit me right away. After realizing it, I started to feel a lot of pressure.

RTV: Was it one of your goals to become No. 1 in the pound-for-pound rankings?

NI: Over the past a few years, I’ve had a couple of fights in Las Vegas, and I’ve come to learn that this pound-for-pound ranking is important. It was something I had to aim for while competing in the United States (where the media and fans constantly debate it). To be honest, when I was in the (115-pound) division (mostly fighting in Japan), I didn’t think I was getting closer to the top of the ranking (so I didn’t think about it).

RTV: How did you come to feel the value of the pound-for-pound rankings while fighting in the United States?

NI: I felt that (higher) rankings would attract attention. It can also be used as part of a promotion. It’s a ranking that raises my value.

RTV: On August 20, No. 2-ranked Oleksandr Usyk will have the rematch with Anthony Joshua, and depending on how it goes, the rankings may change again. Are you interested in watching the fight?

NI: Not really. To be honest, I didn’t even know that Usyk is going to fight next week (laughs). Usyk is a fighter in a completely different weight division, and, again, I feel so proud to be ranked No.1 but it’s not like I’m always worried about how the rankings will go.

RTV: You are already regarded as the best fighter in the world, but you’re only 29 years old. Where do you think your upsides remain?

NI: I really don’t know. I don’t know where and how much I will still be able to grow. However, I think it’s my own task to apply the level I’m boxing now to future opponents. Specifically, when I move up to (the 122-pound division), I will need to adjust against bigger and taller fighters. I think that there will be room for growth.

RTV: Before talking about moving up to junior featherweight, I’d like you to talk a little about Paul Butler, the WBO bantamweight titleholder, and very possibly your final opponent at 118 pounds. I’m hearing that you are likely fighting him in December. What type of fight do you expect?

NI: It depends on how Butler will come out. If he’s trying not to get knocked out, I’ll need a way to deal with it. I read a story that Donaire is advising him to move around, use his jab, utilize his speed, and lateral movement. If Butler does that, I think it will be a long battle. A lot of people think I’m a quick KO puncher, always knocking opponents out in the early rounds, but I’m actually not a hyper-aggressive fighter, so I’m going to have to figure out how Butler will come out and how we’ll engage.

RTV: He will definitely move around a lot.

NI: I think he will too. Butler’s strengths are his footwork, jab and lateral movement. I will need to make a solid strategy.

RTV: Although it is a unification fight, you are regarded as an overwhelming favorite. Is it difficult to stay motivated?

NI: Butler might not be as big of a threat as Donaire, especially power wise, to be completely honest, but I do think he’s a capable fighter, and this is a full unification fight at 118 pounds, so my motivation is still very high.

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NAOYA INOUE Q&A – PART TWO: STEPHEN FULTON, FUTURE PLANS AND CHALLENGES

Ring Ratings Panelist and veteran sports writer Daisuke Sugiura recently returned to his homeland where he sat down with Japan’s biggest boxing star, Ring/WBC/WBA/IBF bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, for an exclusive interview at the three-division titleholder’s gym.

Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs), currently No. 2 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings, discussed moving up to the junior featherweight division, a future ring clash with WBO/WBC 122-pound titleholder Stephen Fulton, facing (and training with) African-American fighters, sparring stories about featherweight standout Leigh Wood, his broadcast deal with Amazon Prime, and how long he wants to continue boxing.

Of the possibility of facing Fulton, The Ring’s No. 1-rated junior featherweight, Inoue stated:

“If we fight each other, I think it will be a great technical battle. It won’t be an easy fight. Fulton has a long reach, and I think it’s about how (well I close the) distance.”



RingTV (RTV): In terms of weight, you said that junior featherweight is probably the best fit for you at this moment. Is that what you feel in the process of losing weight?

Naoya Inoue (NI): I’ve been feeling it for a while now. At 122 pounds, I can move more, and I think I can demonstrate my strength more. However, that’s just me being able to move better (and be more active). I don’t know how much damage I can do to opponents who should be naturally bigger. It will be an unknown world.

RTV: In the past, you have demonstrated a power that seemed to be more dominant as you moved up to the 115- and 118-pound divisions. What do you think was the reason?

NI: Of course, I didn’t have to lose as much weight and that was huge. It might be that Japanese boxers, myself included, generally lose too much weight (fighting in unnaturally light weight classes), so as we move up the weight class, our power increases. I also feel that if I move up to 122, my power will still increase, and I can hit harder. Featherweight is probably my limit, (at that weight) my body will be heavy, so my speed will drop.

RTV: What is your impression of the two 122-pound champs – Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Stephen Fulton? Which one is likely to be your target when you move up?

NI: I haven’t watched much of Akhmadaliev yet, only a few highlights here and there. He has solid technique and is a strong fighter. I can see that he had a formidable amateur career supported by the Uzbekistan system.

RTV: How about Fulton?

NI: I watched the Fulton-Brandon Figueroa fight. Fulton is a technical fighter. He can keep his distance very well. I only watched one of his fights and I don’t think the Figueroa fight was his best, so I’d rather not say much more. If we fight each other, I think it will be a great technical battle. It won’t be an easy fight. Fulton has a long reach, and I think it’s about how (well I close) the distance.

RTV: You have never faced a black American fighter in your pro career. Have you had any sparring with them?

NI: I haven’t sparred with any black fighters yet either. That’s also an unknown area for me. The black athletes tend to be physically strong. I’d love to fight them and feel their athleticism.

RTV: Was there any fighter you thought was really good or strong?

NI: I don’t think there’s anyone I was that impressed with throughout a fight. The first round against Emmanuel Rodriguez in Glasgow, I was like, “Wow (this guy is good)”. From the first round to the 12th round, the only fight when I really had a hard time was the first one against Donaire, but it was more about suffering from the eye injury.

RTV: The same question again, but including the fighters you faced in sparring sessions and amateur fights?

NI: Nothing particular comes to my mind, but Leigh Wood, the current WBA featherweight titleholder whom I sparred with before the Jamie McDonnell fight, had tremendous punching power. Wood is a natural featherweight, and his weight was probably much higher than the featherweight limit when I sparred with him. He was big and probably because of that, I really felt his power and strength.

RTV: Are you looking forward to moving up in weight and competing against stronger and more durable fighters? Do you feel anxious at the same time?

NI: I guess I will feel both. How do I maintain my composure when the future opponents endure my punching power? Right now, the opponent’s expression changes every time I land a punch, but when I move up in weight, they might be able to withstand punches that would normally knock down bantamweights. How do I stay calm when things don’t go my way? I think it’s gonna be fun, but it could be worrisome too.

RTV: Is it also an opportunity to show something you haven’t shown before?

NI: Yes, maybe I will finally be able to show everything I have then.

RTV: Is the best punch you’ve ever thrown so far the right hand that knocked Juan Carlos Payano out cold?

NI: Indeed. I couldn’t throw a perfect punch like that even in practice. It was a perfect punch, not “close to perfect” or “almost perfect.” They say that “persistence pays off.” If you make efforts and continue doing that, I think there might come a time when you even surpass your ability. It was a punch that I was only able to throw when I was really sharpened and had a sense that I don’t usually have. I saw a single light in the ring, and just followed it.

RTV: After moving up to 122, the matchmaking could be difficult because of promotional issues. Are you going to assert your wishes to some extent? Or will you leave it to the team?

NI: I will say who I’d like to fight, what I’d like to do but I’ll leave it up to my manager and promoter in the end. I’m not going to intervene, the rest is up to them.

RTV: With Amazon Prime’s entry into the boxing business, a lot of big fights are likely to take place in Japan. What do you think of the development?

NI: Amazon Prime rates boxing highly and they appreciate the sport. I think it’s a great move for boxing. If young fighters get to the point where they can put on big fights, they can set their sights on the kind of stage that awaits them in Japan as well.

RTV: When you signed the contract with Top Rank, the expectations were that your important fights would be held in the United States. That might not be the case anymore, but would you still like to fight in the U.S. regularly too?

NI: Of course, I still want to fight in America too. It would be great if I could fight alternately in Japan and the U.S.

RTV: It’s still early to say but do you think your weight ceiling is going to be the featherweight?

NI: I think so. I have no desire to fight in the divisions I don’t belong in. I want to be No. 1 in the weight class where I can do my best. Manny Pacquiqo is a rare exception. I won’t move up to the division, where I’d have to overcome a huge deficiency in physique, where my performance won’t be up to my standard.

RTV: It’s hard to imagine that you will chase a bigger fighter strictly for big money.

NI: It’s not about the money, it’s about the best performance. I haven’t even trained for featherweight yet, and I can’t think of anything higher than that now.

RTV: What is your ultimate goal as a boxer?

NI: I started boxing at the age of 6, and I want to find a proper end to my career. It’s not about how many weight classes I’d like to conquer or anything like that. I don’t want to fight in exhibition matches after retirement. I’d like to accomplish everything I want while I’m active. My goal is to create my own legacy but I can’t think of a specific goal for that right now. I used to say that I would retire at 35. However, maybe I could do it a little longer if I feel I can still do it.

RTV: You have always said you want to retire at 35. Have there been any changes in your life plan?

NI: I just can’t say for certain that I will retire at 35. If I am still getting better as a fighter, I’d like to keep challenging myself. There are a lot of 35-year-old active boxers these days. It will be totally up to my health and performance.

RTV:What do you think you are going to do after being a professional boxer?

NI: I don’t know if I would like to stay in boxing or want to leave this business entirely. If I want to stay, I might be interested in becoming a promoter. I wouldn’t say I’d want to become an international promoter, but I think it would be fun to work as a promoter in Japan to increase the popularity of boxing. But, again, only if I wanted to stay in this business. As soon as I retire, I might think boxing is over for me. I might end up doing it to the point where I don’t want to get involved anymore (laughs).

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Naoya Inousyk is going to level up