At any given time, there are not less than a handful of energetic pugilists of whom it could possibly be stated, and not using a hint of hyperbole, that they’re on observe in direction of not simply being a Corridor of Famer, however probably a real all-time nice. Inevitably, for no matter motive, a few of these high abilities will stumble and fall in need of our expectations. But in addition inevitably, there can be these uncommon warriors who safe what we would check with as boxing immortality, their title and their exploits destined to imagine a hallowed place in sports activities historical past and to encourage the following era to lace up the gloves and battle for glory. Who can say what number of dewy-eyed kids in Japan are proper now watching high-light movies of right now’s good victory and begging their dad and mom to take them to the closest battle gymnasium?
Let’s be blunt: Roman Gonzalez apart, there isn’t a different energetic fighter with a stronger case to being a real latter-day nice than Naoya Inoue, aka “The Monster.” Is Canelo Alvarez within the dialog? Completely. Similar for Juan Francisco Estrada, Vasiliy Lomachenko, and, perhaps, Oleksandr Usyk. However Crawford and Spence each have a protracted method to go, and Tyson Fury will not be even a part of the equation. No, the one and solely twenty first century gladiator who might be stated to be rubbing shoulders with legends like Eder Jofre and Pancho Villa is a tiny man who is sort of unknown exterior of Japan and the lonely, remoted enclaves of hardcore battle followers. This was, arguably, already the case earlier than Inoue scored an eighth spherical TKO over undefeated tremendous bantamweight titlist Stephen Fulton, however now there might be no argument in any respect: Inoue will not be solely the perfect boxer on the planet proper now, pound-for-pound, however he’s on observe to establishing himself because the best fighter to ever come out of Japan, and a real all-time nice of twenty first century boxing, maybe the best.
For what it’s price, this web site has lengthy acknowledged that Inoue is one thing very particular. He was our Fighter of the 12 months again in 2014, and once more for 2019. Since profitable a world title in simply his sixth professional battle in 2014, he has laid waste to not only one, however three completely different divisions, within the course of taking over high ranked fighters, one after the opposite, and never simply defeating them, however dominating or knocking them out. To be extra exact, in his final twelve matches, he has scored 9 knockouts over boxers who ranked within the high 5 of their divisions, 4 of these wins over world champions or primary ranked contenders. Nobody else within the battle recreation proper now can boast such dominance. Within the opinion of this author, nobody else even comes shut.
And whereas exercise ranges in twenty first century boxing can by no means examine to many years previous, Inoue’s consistency and longevity are clearly a part of the case for his being greater than a champion, greater than a “monster.” He’s now thirty-years-old, probably previous his peak, and has been at or close to the very summit of his career for nearly a decade, with no missteps in anyway. However what’s extra, he exhibits no indicators of decline, whereas persevering with to maneuver up in weight and defeat one formidable foe after one other.
And if actually he’s previous his peak, that solely makes his efficiency towards Fulton that rather more spectacular, because it may effectively be the best of his profession. He boxed with poise, confidence and endurance towards a naturally greater foe and, when the time was proper, struck like a rattlesnake with a vicious proper to the jaw and a follow-up left that put his bigger, stronger opponent flat on his again. Fulton beat the rely however Inoue’s follow-up assault was livid but measured, and in a matter of seconds he had rendered the beforehand undefeated “Cool Boy” helpless.
We knew virtually a decade in the past that “The Monster” was a extremely harmful puncher, with devastating energy and ending instincts to match. And in 2019, when he overcame a damaged orbital bone and a ferocious efficiency from Nonito Donaire to turn out to be the undisputed bantamweight king, we realized he had astonishing braveness, sturdiness and can to win. And right now he demonstrated all these qualities together with superlative talent and ring smarts as he dismantled arguably his most daunting problem thus far with astonishing proficiency and ruthlessness. Not surprisingly, the cry is being heard from all corners now: we’ve got a generational expertise in our midst, an all-time nice. Really, way more than a “monster.”
— Neil Crane
