Naoya Inoue: Japan’s Boxing Superstar Set to Thrill Fans at Home
Veteran promoter Bob Arum understands the power of Naoya Inoue’s stardom in Japan and sees no reason for the two-time undisputed champion to fight outside his home country anytime soon.
“This is a different actor – the biggest boxing star in a well-to-do-country,” Arum told BoxingScene on Wednesday. Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is set to defend his junior featherweight title against former champion Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) on May 6 at the iconic Tokyo Dome, where fight sales have already exceeded $20 million.
Arum noted the stark contrast to Manny Pacquiao and Tyson Fury’s journeys, where fighting in the U.S. was once the surest path to the biggest paydays. “For Inoue, it’s the exact opposite – although fighting in Japan creates a challenging road trip for his foes. Their purses ease the discomfort,” he said.
Analyst Shawn Porter had suggested Inoue should come to the U.S. to cement his status as a global superstar, but the champion dismissed the idea. “The home of the [lower weights] is now here in Japan. If there is something better than what is available in the Japanese market in America, I would be happy to go,” Inoue responded.
Arum agreed, arguing, “There’s nobody even close in those divisions [near Inoue’s weight class] who could make a fight bigger than what he can do in Japan.” He emphasized the futility of Inoue pursuing the American market, where he “could not approach what he makes in Japan.”
The promoter’s stance reflects Inoue’s remarkable standing in his home country, where he has drawn massive crowds and television audiences. As the undisputed boxing king of Japan, the 30-year-old appears poised to thrill his adoring fans for the foreseeable future.
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