Promoter Eddie Hearn called on Naoya Inoue to fight his WBA No. 1 contender Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) after his third-round knockout victory over Ricardo Espinoza (30) at the Salle on Saturday night -5, 25 KOs) had won the Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
(Source: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn is trying to get the 31-year-old Inoue and his team to take the fight to Akhamadaliev, but that doesn’t seem to be effective. Inoue was immune to public pressure throughout his career and ignored their pleas to face better opponents.
He spent 12 years on it Feasting on tomato canswon three division world titles against flawed fighters. He won’t respond to being shamed by Hearn by fighting Akhmadaliev and probably getting eliminated the same way Ricardo Espinoza did tonight.
Akhmadaliev knocked Espinoza down three times in the third round and had to be stopped after 2:59 minutes. After the fight, Akhmadaliev challenged undisputed super bantamweight champion Inoue to face her next on January 24 following his next title defense against No. 1 IBF and No. 1 WBO Sam Goodman.
Will Inoue vacate?
Hearn said he believes Team Inoue will “steer clear” of Akhmadaliev. If he doesn’t fight him, he expects Naoya to lose his WBA title. He may actually succeed, as he is expected to move up to 126 soon after his fights against Goodman (19-0, 9 KOs) on January 24 and Junto Nakatani.
The risk-averse champion
Akhmadaliev has almost no chance of contending with Noue because he is too talented, and the Japanese star has become one risk averse. Inoue has never fought anyone good in his 12-year career. So you can say he was never a risk taker.
“I’m ready. Let’s go, Naoya. Why is he avoiding me? If he doesn’t want to fight with me, he has to explain it, because when I was champion I followed the rules and he should also follow the rules,” Murodjon Akmadaliev said during a speechinterview After his knockout of Ricardo Espinoza on Saturday evening, he challenged undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.
“I had duty. I fought them without any discussion. So I need an explanation because I’m here and ready for battle. The best should fight against the best. I am mandatory and (WBA) interim champion. He (Inoue) should prove that he is the best in his division. He is a legend. He should prove it too,” Akhmadaliev said of Naoya Inoue.
I don’t think Akhmadaliev and Hearn can do anything to force Naoya to fight him. He will next make his rescheduled title defense against the hard-hitting Sam Goodman on January 24th and will likely face Junto Nakatania after that. He’s another hittable guy.
Naoya’s avoidance tactics
“We gave him the fight. It wasn’t called once. “It was called twice by the WBA,” promoter Eddie Hearn said of booking a fight for his fighter Akhmadaliev twice. “The first time they paid for an exception to disappoint MJ.
“The second time there was iron in the writing. 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 incredible fighter. There’s one thing he doesn’t have. This is Uzbek power.
“I’m telling you. There’s only one fighter in the (super bantamweight) division who can keep up with him, let alone beat him, and that’s MJ. I’m telling you now, and you record it. This man (Akhmadaliev) is going to beat Naoya Inoue.
“He has all the skills, all the skills and the pedigree. I firmly believe he will beat him. We do it in Japan. They should have fought each other for the undisputed championship. “We (Akhmadaliev) lost a decision we didn’t think we deserved (to Marlon Tapales by a 12-round split decision on April 8, 2023),” Hearn said of Akhmadaliev’s controversial decision loss to Tapales last year.
That was a tough deal that Akhmadaliev made when he lost to Tapales by a 12-round decision in April 2023 last year. It’s a shame there never was a rematch because there should have been one.
“Twice he (Naoya) was called to fight him. He’s the only fighter in the division and there are people out there who say, “Oh no, Naoya doesn’t back down from anyone.” Inoue may not, but his team does because everyone in boxing knows how good he (Akhmadaliev) is. is.
“Uzbek power”
“Let the best fight the best. It’s the only fight in the division. It’s one of the best fights in sports. I’ll tell you what. I’ll bet the whole house on it. This young man defeated Naoya Inoue. I’ll tell you something else. I bet they never fight him. After that fight with (Sam) Goodman,
“He either has to vacate or fight him. I bet they avoid him. If so, don’t call him “Pound for Pound #1” because that man will beat him. Uzbek power, build your house on it,” Hearn said.
Naoya will vacate his four titles at 122, but he will do so without fighting Akhmadaliev because he poses a threat to beat him. He is cautious and always has been.
