Naoya “The Monster” Inoue

Naoya Inoue is a Japanese professional boxer born on April 10th, 1993. 

He is a three-division world champion and currently a unified bantamweight world champion; having held the WBA (Super), IBF, and Ring magazine titles since 2019.

He previously held the WBO junior-bantamweight title from 2014 to 2018, and the WBC light-flyweight title in 2014.

Nicknamed “Monster”, Inoue is known for his punching power and body attack, having a knockout-to-win ratio of 85%. 

As of November 2021, he is ranked as the world’s best active bantamweight by BoxRec; the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB), and ESPN; as well as the world’s second-best active boxer, pound for pound, by the Boxing Writers Association of America; third by TBRB and ESPN, and fourth by The Ring.

Boxing Profile – Naoya Inoue – Bantamweight Career

Inoue vs. McDonnell

Promoter Eddie Hearn first reported to Sky Sports on 14 February 2018 that a deal was being negotiated for WBA ‘Regular’ bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell to defend his title, which he won in 2014, for the seventh time, against Inoue in Japan. 

McDonnell’s original plan was to move up to super bantamweight in 2018. However, instead stated he wanted big challenges and saw Inoue as a solid opponent to test himself.

On 6 March, Inoue held a press conference in Japan announcing the fight against McDonnell at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 25 May 2018.

The fight started at a pace that McDonnell was unable to sustain initially being hurt with a left hook to the top of the head. Following by being sent to the canvas by a two-punch combination culminating in a left hook to the body. 

He bravely gets up, only to be back down after a series of brutal punches by Inoue. Including another clean left hook that discombobulates McDonnell’s senses. 

The referee waved the fight off within less than a round declaring Inoue the TKO victor.

Inoue vs. Payano

At the World Boxing Super Series draft gala on 20 July, Inoue now chose to defend his WBA title against Dominican Republic boxer Juan Carlo Payano in the quarter-final.

In August, the fight was announce to take place on October 7 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

Inoue won the fight with a first-round knockout. 

It was a right hand just 70 seconds into their scheduled 12-round bout. Inoue connected with a jab before blasting Payano with a perfect straight right hand that put Payano flat on his back and unable to continue.

Inoue vs. Rodríguez

Emmanuel Rodríguez defeated Jason Moloney via decision in October 2018, booking his place into the semi-final against Inoue. 

On 12 February 2019, the fight set to take place at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland on 18 May 2019.

In April, Emmanuel Rodríguez defeated late replacement Stephon Young, to confirm his place in the final. 

 Emmanuel Rodríguez stated he would ‘love to fight’ Inoue in the final, as the two have always respected each other.

On 18 May, Inoue advanced to the final by knocking out Rodríguez in the second round. 

After a close first round, Inoue drops Rodríguez three times in quick succession before the fight stop at 1:20.

Inoue vs. Donaire

Inoue faced four-weight world champion, Nonito Donaire, on 7 November 2019, in Saitama, Japan, for the World Boxing Super Series final. 

In a thrilling fight that saw incredible heart and endurance displayed by both men, Inoue ultimately won a unanimous decision with scores of 116–111, 117–109, and 114–113. 

The two traded punches in the first half of the fight. 

In the second round, a left hook from Donaire caused a serious cut above Inoue’s right eye which affected his vision, but he fought back hard and in the fifth round had Donaire in trouble, who was saved by the bell. 

However, Donaire retained his composure and began to hurt Inoue more in the second half of the fight, particularly in the ninth round where he landed a tremendous right hand and left Inoue’s face bloodied. 

During the eleventh round, Inoue downed Donaire with a left hook to the liver, but he made it to his feet at a count of 9 and kept fighting until the final bell. 

After the fight, Donaire and Inoue showed each other mutual respect, with Inoue lauding Donaire as “a true champion”.

Inoue got the Muhammad Ali Trophy by Fighting Harada.

Afterward, Inoue revealed he suffered a fractured orbital bone in the second round causing him to see double, and also a broken nose.

The fight was later the Ring magazine Fight of the Year.

Inoue vs. Moloney

Inoue faced Jason Moloney on 31 October at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. 

Inoue scored a seventh-round knockout victory.

In the sixth round, a quick counter left hook sent Moloney down. 

In the seventh, a short right hand sent Moloney down for the second time. 

While he tried to get up, he did not have his senses, and referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 2:59 of the round.

Inoue vs. Dasmariñas

Inoue faced his IBF mandatory challenger Michael Dasmariñas on 19 June 2021 in Paradise, Nevada.

He scored three knockdowns in the span of three rounds, each one with a left hook to the body of Dasmariñas, to win via third-round stoppage. 

After the fight, Inoue stated his desire to become the first undisputed champion in the bantamweight division.