Naoya Inoue Secures Emphatic Victory, Sparking Speculation on What’s Next
Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), one of the premier boxers in the world, had to overcome a tough challenge from Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) to secure a decisive sixth-round victory in their recent bout. Despite being dropped in the contest, Inoue displayed his exceptional skills and power, ultimately forcing referee Michael Griffin to stop the fight while Nery was on the canvas following a heavy right hand.
The victory has ignited speculation about Inoue’s future opponents, with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum discussing the possibility of the four-weight world champion facing his IBF mandatory challenger, Sam Goodman, with a potential date set for September or October.
Further speculation has come from renowned trainer Virgil Hunter, who has expressed interest in a potential matchup between Inoue and lightweight champion Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs). While there is a significant weight discrepancy between the two fighters, Hunter believes a catchweight contest would not be necessary, arguing that Inoue could comfortably move up in weight, just as other fighters like Guillermo Rigondeaux and Jermell Charlo have done in the past.
“Let’s not make any excuses,” Hunter told FightHype. “Rigondeaux fought Lomachenko; there was no catchweight involved. He dared to take that opportunity. [Rigondeaux] came up short, but he dared to take it. Charlo dared to fight Canelo at 168, coming from 154. So it’s only a few pounds north. You’re getting a little older. I’m sure you could carry the weight comfortably. So I wouldn’t make any concessions for that fight.”
With Inoue’s dominant performance and the speculation surrounding his next move, boxing enthusiasts eagerly await to see what the future holds for the Japanese superstar as he continues to cement his place among the sport’s elite.
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