Naoya Inoue Q&A – Part 2: Three fights in 2024, featherweight in 2025, appealing to American fans, fighting in the U.S.

Famous sports activities journalist Daisuke Sugiura, a RingTV.com contributor and a member of the Ring Scores Panel, just lately sat down with Naoya Inoue on the Japanese famous person’s dwelling gymnasium in Yokohama. The undisputed junior featherweight champion candidly shared his ideas on an eventual transfer to featherweight, his ceiling by way of weight climbing, his curiosity in boxing past his personal profession, and his need to “crossover” with the American boxing public, amongst different topics.

Daisuke Sugiura interviewed Naoya Inoue on the Ohashi Boxing Gymnasium in Yokohama, Japan on January 24. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

I‘m positive you’ve been requested this many instances, however how for much longer do you propose to struggle at tremendous bantamweight?

I’m planning on preventing 3 times this yr. I’m positive these three fights will happen at tremendous bantamweight. My transfer as much as featherweight will depend upon how I really feel and the way my physique feels subsequent yr.

Are you preventing in Could, September and December?

Sure, in all probability round that timeframe.

You beforehand instructed me that your weight ceiling goes to be the featherweight division. Is that also the case?

Sure, almost definitely I’ll solely transfer as much as featherweight.

I really feel like your ideas in your weight division ceiling is just not nicely understood by abroad followers. Some persons are nonetheless clamoring for a struggle with light-weight beltholder Gervonta Davis, however that received’t occur. Your purpose for transferring up in weight lessons is just not since you assume you’ll be able to win or earn money, however reasonably to maneuver as much as a division the place you’ll be able to carry out at your finest. Am I appropriate?

You might be appropriate.

Inoue says his weight climbing will finish at featherweight. Acting at his best possible is extra essential to him that cash and fame. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

And proper now, the load division the place you’ll be able to carry out your finest is at tremendous bantamweight/junior featherweight, and doubtless featherweight sooner or later.

Sure, that’s about it. I at all times need to present one of the best Naoya Inoue. I wouldn’t resolve to start out preventing at featherweight or tremendous featherweight simply because the cash is sweet. I don’t assume that’s what I would like. There are a lot of fighters who’ve chased the cash however ended up not having the ability to carry out nicely and stop. The rationale I field is just not for the cash; I do that to indicate my finest self. It’s additionally true that I’m motivated by preventing robust opponents, however there are weight divisions in boxing for a purpose.

Is it tough to make weight even at tremendous bantamweight?

I often weigh round 64 or 65 kg [141 or 143 pounds between fights], so I’ve to lose 9 or 10 kg [20 to 22 pounds] earlier than the struggle. But it surely’s not that unhealthy.

While you transfer as much as featherweight, will it’s a must to add muscle to your physique?

I don’t must construct my physique as much as transfer as much as featherweight. I’ll transfer up as soon as my physique naturally grows into the heavier weight class. This has been the case all through my skilled profession.

You talked about Terence Crawford’s identify earlier, so have you ever been paying extra consideration to your pound-for-pound rival currently?

I attempt to concentrate to it. Nevertheless, I don’t actually watch heavyweights or the heavier weight lessons. I do know Oleksandr Usyk is meant to struggle Tyson Fury, however the [heavier] weight lessons are so completely different that I don’t really feel like watching or checking it out. It’s only a completely different form of boxing than mine. It’s nearly a totally completely different sport.

You’re not the kind of one that watches boxing on a regular basis, are you?

No, I’m not. I watch when my stablemates from the Ohashi Gymnasium struggle, however I’m often probably not within the fights abroad that a lot, to be sincere.

Since successful each the Ring Journal and BWAA Fighter of the Yr honors, do you care extra about “crossing over” to an extent with the American boxing public?

I’m beginning to care about that rather a lot. Successful an award just like the Fighter of the Yr ought to assist my standing. I don’t reside in america, so I do not know how many individuals are excited by boxing, or what number of of them are excited by me, however I’m beginning to concentrate to on-line articles extra.

Naoya Inoue has grow to be a mega-star in Japan, however he desires to be embraced by American followers too. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

Your self-awareness has modified just a little as your world popularity has elevated.

Nicely, that’s true. Ever since I entered the pound-for-pound rankings, and began to climb to the highest, I’ve began paying extra consideration to it.

Will you and [your Japan-based co-promoter] Mr. [Hideyuki] Ohashi contemplate future struggle dates within the U.S.?

I at all times have a need to struggle within the U.S. Sure, I undoubtedly need to struggle there once more. Nevertheless, Japan is now changing into an enormous market too. I believe the explanation behind eager to seize the “American Dream” is that in the event you accomplish one thing within the U.S, identify recognition and large cash will comply with. However, these days, on this streaming period, if you’re profitable in Japan, you may make tens of millions even within the lighter-weight divisions. That’s why [Stephen] Fulton got here to Japan, and the large fights are simpler to make in Japan.

Proper, that is the period of the “Japanese Dream,” particularly for smaller fighters.

Sure, everybody desires to struggle in Japan. I really feel that issues are altering in that route. Initially, everybody needed to struggle in America as a result of there was a possibility to make large cash due to a system like PPV. These days, Japan has grow to be the stage that lighter-weight class fighters aspire to compete in.

I believe you’re the fighter that began this motion. Not too long ago, you might have grow to be the champion that many notable fighters need to struggle. Do you are feeling your opponents are learning you extra currently?

After all, I really feel that I’m being studied. Within the newest struggle in opposition to [Marlon] Tapales, I received the impression that Tapales was preventing extra defensively. After all, I believe he fought defensively as a result of it was in opposition to me, however when champion-class fighters simply concentrate on protection, it’s tough to make it an thrilling struggle. If I maintain my distance, use my legs and jab, and struggle defensively, I could make the struggle much less thrilling too.

So, you didn’t assume Tapales was truly making an attempt to win?

I’m curious as to what he was pondering when he selected to struggle like that.

Naoya Inoue regularly broke via Marlon Tapales’ cagey shell protection. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

What do you consider the opinion that the effectiveness of your punches has decreased just a little after transferring as much as tremendous bantamweight?

I’m nonetheless assured that if I hit somebody cleanly, I can knock anybody out, at any time. It’s simply that the items didn’t match collectively in opposition to Tapales. Even the 2 knockdowns weren’t as crisp as I needed, reasonably, it was a gradual assault that brought on him to fall down in disgust.

Are you now within the latter half of your profession? Or are you nearing the tip?

Now I’m getting into the final 5 years. I’ve been pondering of the primary 5 years, the center 5 years, and the final 5 years.

However you don’t really feel such as you’ve handed your prime but, do you?

No, in no way.

Do you are feeling you might be in your absolute prime now?

Now I can objectively take a look at what I need to do within the ring extra, and I’m able to convey it into the struggle. I are likely to assault from the start, and up till now, due to the expertise I had gathered over the many years, my physique was capable of reply even after I was nervous or my thoughts was clean. Not too long ago, nevertheless, I are likely to assume first within the ring, keep calm, after which act. My psychological sport throughout the fights has been altering.

That’s a optimistic factor, proper?

It’s extraordinarily optimistic.

Final time we spoke, you mentioned you weren’t positive in the event you needed to remain in boxing after retiring from being an expert fighter. How do you are feeling now?

What do you assume? I believe I’ll be concerned in boxing. Most probably (snigger). I really feel like I need to keep on what Mr. Ohashi has created. It’s because of the accomplishments of Mr. Ohashi that Ohashi Gymnasium [and promotional company] has grow to be this large. I believe it will likely be extraordinarily tough to proceed this fashion, and I believe it’s as much as the individuals who come after him to convey it down or enhance it.

So, do you need to grow to be Mr. Ohashi’s successor?

What I’m doing now as an lively fighter is essential, in fact, however I’d wish to proceed constructing on what Mr. Ohashi has created. I imagine that’s how I’d wish to repay him for elevating and guiding me so nicely.