It is possible that Naoya Inoue is the very best boxer in the world right now. He is certainly the best boxer you have never heard of or seen fight.
He won his first world title 10 years ago, has added world titles at three different weights, and has stopped or knocked out 24 of the 27 men he has met in professional fights.
This morning in Japan, Inoue will have his 23rd world title fight when he defends his super-bantamweight titles against the tough Irish-Australian, TJ Doheny. It will be over by about round six.
Inoue has knocked out 20 of the 22 men he has met in world title fights since winning his first championship back in 2014. He started at just 108lb and is now a stone heavier at 122lb. He has held the light-fly, super-fly, bantam and now the superbantam world titles.
Denne historien er fra September 03, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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