Promoter Eddie Hearn has called Naoya Inoue to fight his WBA #1 contender, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs), following his third round victory over Ricardo Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at -Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn is trying to bully Inoue, 31, and his team into fighting Akhamadaliev, but that doesn’t seem to be working. Inoue could not be pressured by the public throughout his career, ignoring their pleas to fight better opposition.
He is 12 years old bingeing on cans of tomatoeswinning three division world titles against flawed fighters. He won’t react to Hearn’s humiliation of fighting Akhmadaliev and is likely to be sent off the same way as Ricardo Espinoza tonight.
Akhmadaliev knocked Espinoza down three times in the third round for the stoppage at 2:59. After the fight, Akhmadaliev challenged undisputed super bantamweight champion Inoue to face them next after his next title defense against #1 IBF and #1 WBO Sam Goodman on January 24.
Will Inoue Go?
Hearn said he thinks Team Inoue will “avoid” Akhmadaliev. If he doesn’t fight him, he expects Naoya to vacate his WBA title. He may do that because he is expected to move up to 126 soon after his fights with Goodman (19-0, 9 KOs) on January 24 against Junto Nakatani.
Risk Averse Champion
Akhmadaliev probably has no chance against Noue because he is so talented, and the Japanese star has become. risk-averse. Inoue has never fought anyone good during his 12-year career. So you can say that he has never been dangerous.
“I’m ready. Let’s go Naoya. Why are you misleading me? If he doesn’t want to fight me, he has to explain because when I was champion I followed the rules and he should follow the rules,” said Murodjon Akmadaliev during an interview following his defeat by Ricardo Espinoza on Saturday night, calling the undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue .
“I was responsible. I was fighting them without negotiating. So, I need an explanation because I am here and ready to fight. The best should be fighting the best. I’m compulsive, too [WBA] temporary champion. He [Inoue] he has to prove that he is the best in his category. He is a legend. He also has to prove that,” said Akhmadaliev about Naoya Inoue.
I don’t think there is anything Akhmadaliev and Hearn can do to force Naoya to fight him. He will defend his rescheduled title against lightweight Sam Goodman next on January 24 and possibly fight Junto Nakatania after that. He is another guy who loses.
Naoya’s Avoidance Tactics
“We brought him war. It was never called once. It has been called twice by the WBA,” said promoter Eddie Hearn about the fight ordered twice by his striker Akhmadaliev. “For the first time, they are paying a different fee to MJ.
“The second was written in iron. They had to fight him. They found a way to avoid him [Akhmadaliev] again. Naoya Inoue is a pound for pound legend. We respect him. He is an unbelievable fighter. There’s one thing he doesn’t have. That is Uzbek power.
“I’m telling you. There is only one fighter [super bantamweight] a split that can rival him, let alone beat him, and that’s MJ. I’m telling you now, and write this down. This man [Akhmadaliev] he will beat Naoya Inoue.
“He has all the skills, ability and pedigree. I fully believe he will beat him. We will do it in Japan. They had to fight each other to win the undefeated title. We [Akhmadaliev] we lost a decision that we didn’t believe we deserved to win [against Marlon Tapales by a 12-round split decision on April 8, 2023],” Hearn said of Akhmadaliev’s decision loss to Tapales last year.
That was the raw deal given to Akhmadaliev, who lost to Tapales by a 12-round decision last year in April 2023. It’s too bad there wasn’t a rematch because there should have been.
“Twice, it’s him [Naoya] you are called to fight him. He’s the only fighter in this division, and there are people who say, ‘Oh no, Naoya is not looking at anybody.’ Maybe Inoue doesn’t, but his team does, because everyone in boxing knows how good he is [Akhmadaliev] is something.
“Uzbek Power”
“The good fought the best. It is the only battle in the category. It is one of the best fights in sports. I tell you what. I’ll bet the house on it. This guy beat Naoya Inoue. I’ll tell you something else. I bet they never fought him. After this war [Sam] Goodman,
“He should leave or fight with him. I bet they avoid him. If it happens, don’t start calling him pound #1 because this man will beat him up. Uzbek power, attach your house to it,” said Hearn.
Naoya will retire his four titles at 122, but he will do so without fighting Akhmadaliev because he is dangerous to beat. He is careful and has always been careful.
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