When Naoya Inoue defeated a respected Japanese titleholder and future world champion in just his fourth fight, the writing should have been on the wall.
This unique young fighter had something about him that would keep boxing enthusiasts fixated on his run. A decade later, after a run that is likened to the great Manny Pacquiao, Inoue stands on the cusp of another victory to add to his legacy.
Inoue fights underdog TJ Doheny on Tuesday at the Ariake Arena in Japan, knowing his legacy is already secured. Winning undisputed titles in two separate weight classes in just over a year will affect any career.
‘The Monster’ won his first world championship in six fights against the season Adrian Hernandez. The triumph would spark the most impressive lower-weight class run since Pacquiao ripped through the divisions from a debut at 105 pounds.
By his eighth fight, Inoue was a two-weight world champion, having dispatched Omar Narvaez in just two rounds after bypassing the flyweight limit. After seven successful defenses, Inoue moved up to bantamweight and began taking apart world champions, beginning with Jamie McDonnell.
In under three minutes of action, Juan Carlos Payano was next as Inoue pummeled two former bantamweight rulers. A Fight of the Year defense against Nonito Donaire followed as Inoue hurtled towards unifying every strap at 118 pounds against Paul Butler in November 2022.
He eventually claimed all the belts at Super Bantamweight by stopping Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales by December 2023. Now a four-weight king, speculation is rife that Inoue may become a five or six-weight champion by 2026. By then, he’ll be 33 and potentially considering going one step further.
Should Inoue become five-weight, he joins a band of legends including Floyd Mayweather. At six-weight, Inoue rubs shoulders with Oscar De La Hoya. However, at seven-weight, Inoue would be alongside Pacquiao as boxing’s only two seven-weight world champions.
To join the Filipino superstar, Inoue must win a title up to lightweight [135 pounds], which the man himself admits may not be possible. Looking back on his career now, maybe Inoue should have won a belt at flyweight to make that leap towards Pacquiao’s achievements a little more comfortable.
That’s no longer possible, but with talk of a featherweight fight in 2025, Inoue would still be in good company with Mayweather as a five-weight ruler. The Doheny fight should be a means to an end, a mere bridge to featherweight before we see the awesome Inoue rubbing shoulders with Rey Vargas, Angelo Leo, Rafael Espinoza, and Nick Ball in the coming months.
On their previous form, Inoue could target Vargas in the first half of next year on his five-weight quest.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
