The affect that Naoya Inoue has made since turning skilled a bit of underneath 12 years in the past is startling, much more so once you try and charge his 10 most interesting performances.
Adrian Hernandez, TKO 6 (April 6, 2014)
Simply 5-0 heading into his first world title struggle, Inoue made all of it look so very simple as he dominated and stopped the WBC junior flyweight boss inside six rounds.
Jamie McDonnell, TKO 1 (Could 25, 2018)
What an introduction to the bantamweight class this was. McDonnell, confirmed and durable at world degree, was taken aside in 112 violent seconds.
Marlon Tapales, KO 10 (December 26, 2023)
A beatdown of a double belt-holder exhibited the flexibility of Inoue on the highest of ranges as he claimed undisputed standing in a second weight class.
Juan Carlos Payano, KO 1 (October 7, 2018)
Arguably essentially the most cinematic end of Inoue’s profession so far, the whip cracker proper hand that stole Payano’s stability was superbly orchestrated.
Nonito Donaire, UD 12 (November 7, 2019)
An exciting affair that featured Inoue participating in a uncommon aggressive struggle. That the injured Inoue (fractured proper eye socket, no much less) scored a knockdown so late within the bout (spherical 11) and Donaire survived it was testomony to the qualities of each.
Omar Andres Narvaez, KO 2 (December 30, 2014)
Arguably the efficiency that made the world listen. Showcasing an offensive repertoire that belied his 21 years, Inoue dethroned WBO junior bantamweight king Omar Andres Narvaez, who was making his 13th defence. Inoue dropped Narvaez twice in every of the primary and second rounds. The veteran, who had solely misplaced one among 46 bouts beforehand, couldn’t rise following the fourth fall.
Jason Moloney, KO 7 (October 31, 2020)
In Las Vegas, Inoue artfully outboxed Jason Moloney from vary for the primary six minutes earlier than hurting his rival for the primary time in spherical three, a left uppercut the offending blow. A proper cross shocked Moloney within the fifth and, within the subsequent, Inoue delved additional into his field of tips to flooring his opponent, whereas going backwards, with the sweetest of left hooks. The ending blow, a proper hand that nearly bent Moloney in half as he fell to the mat in spherical seven, was the very best of the lot.
Nonito Donaire, TKO 2 (June 7, 2022)
Whether or not Inoue had improved or Donaire had pale since their first encounter – in reality, it was a mix of each – the rematch was barely aggressive. Inoue stalked Donaire, who got here with the WBC bantamweight title, from the opening bell and scored a knockdown on the finish of the primary spherical. With the tip nigh, Inoue set about his rival to finish the demolition job halfway by way of the second.
Emmanuel Rodriguez, KO 2 (Could 18, 2019)
Angered by an incident during which his father and coach, Shingo Inoue, was shoved by Rodriguez’s coach, Williams Cruz, the “Monster” wasted no time in feasting on an opponent deemed a menace beforehand. Inoue made a mockery of these proclaiming the WBSS bantamweight semi-final a 50/50 matchup with a ferocious show, dropping Rodriguez thrice and bloodying his nostril for good measure.
Stephen Fulton, TKO 8 (July 25, 2023)
In one of the crucial full and spectacular performances of 2023, but maybe underappreciated as a result of Terence Crawford thrashed Errol Spence Jr solely days later, Inoue blitzed Stephen Fulton with unerring ease. Philadelphia’s Fulton – a proficient and decided tradesmen labelled by loads because the potential winner – got here with ambition however was by no means in it earlier than being rescued in spherical eight.
