Eddie Hearn is furious with WBA super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue throwing down a mandatory challenge Murodjon Akhmadaliev to make it easier to fight weak opposition that is not a threat to beat him.
Hearn says the World Boxing Association will write to Inoue (29-9, 26 KOs) on Monday telling him he must defend against Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) next, or he will be stripped of the WBA 122-lb belt.
However, Hearn predicts that Inoue, 31, will vacate his WBA title and face his WBC #1 contender, Alan David PicassoThe next one. The two are expected to fight in the US next in Las Vegas. Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) is not well known in the US boxing community, but he has fans in his native Mexico who will be happy to see him fight ‘Monster’ Inoue.
Predicted Space
“Naoya Inoue beats Murodjon Akhmadaliev a little bit. He has been ordered to fight him twice. He’s had two gimme fights [Ye Joon Kim and TJ Doheny] instead of fighting Akhmadaliev,” said Eddie Hearn speaking to Sport Boxing about Naoya Inoue.
“On Monday, the WBA will write to Naoya Inoue saying, ‘Enough is enough.’ You have to fight Akhmadaliev or you will be stripped of your WBA title and you will no longer be uncontested.’ Watch this now. “Naoya Inoue will relinquish his WBA world title,” said Hearn.
“Who is Akhmadaliev,” says Gareth A. Davies.
Hearn may start preparing for the WBA belt that will be taken away from Inoue because there is little chance of him fighting Akhmadaliev. You are very dangerous. It will be interesting to see if the WBA chooses to strip Naoya because he is a popular star, making their organization look ready to hold the belt. Replacing him with the lesser-known Akhmadaliev is not highly regarded in the WBA.
Like Canelo Alvarez, Inoue stopped fighting serious fights years ago and plays it safe now. Fighting a smaller team won’t hurt him like Nonito Donaire did in their first fight. Inoue suffered a broken nose and a broken right collarbone. Inoue gives us punishment well, but he doesn’t shoot well.
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