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Inoue joyful with maintaining 122 pounds – is he avoiding bigger challenges?

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Image: Inoue Content to Stay at 122 - Is He Avoiding Bigger Challenges?

Naoya Inoue has no interest in moving up to the 126-pound weight class after knocking out TJ Doheny in the seventh round on Tuesday night at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) defended his undisputed super bantamweight title for the second time against the 37-year-old Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs), whose back gave out in the seventh round. It wasn’t what Inoue did that ended the fight.

Is Inoue avoiding tougher fights?

Doheny’s back couldn’t handle all the bending he was doing to avoid Inoue’s punches and eventually froze. After the fight, it was revealed that Inoue, 31, would stay at 122 and plans to defend against his IBF mandatory, Sam Goodman, on Dec. 24 in Tokyo.

When you see Inoue fighting guys like Doheny and Luis Nery and targeting the lightly-hitting Goodman, it’s difficult not to conclude that he’s avoiding tougher fights. If Inoue was interested in fighting tougher guys, he would have moved up to 126 earlier this year and wouldn’t be planning on fighting Goodman.

“You call him ‘The Monster’ and anoint him as a mythical figure, and then you expect him to weigh more and fight everyone all the time,” commentator Chris Algieri told Inside Boxing Live YouTube channel talking about how Naoya Inoue looked like a man in his fight against TJ Doheny on Tuesday night.

Inoue has only moved up in weight four times, and now he’s where he should have been all along. He’s always been huge at 112, 115 and 118. Now he’s fighting guys his size at 122, but the division is so completely devoid of talent that Inoue has to move up to 126.

Fear factor

All the talented fighters are in this weight class because there is no point in fighting at 122. In the end, the only guy worth fighting is Inoue. He won’t fight them because he is too busy with selection.

“It’s always like, ‘What’s next? Go to 126.’ Guys, he’s the man. He fights at 122. He’s too diminutive; he’s a smaller guy. This is his fourth time and he’s still holding all these guys back. His whole career, coming up and fighting bigger guys with more experience, he’s still holding them back,” Algieri said.

The fans want Inoue to move up to 126 because that’s where all the talent is. If 122 was as luxurious in quality fighters as 126, the fans wouldn’t be urging Inoue to move up. 122 is full of older fighters, and the fans want Inoue to move up to 126, where he’d have an endless supply of great fights.

“Of course, he doesn’t knock guys out with one punch like he did at 118 and 115, but he’s human,” Algieri continued about Inoue. “He’ll say no. He’s 31. He says he wants two more years in this weight class. [122].”

What is Algieri talking about? Inoue is already showing a decline in his hand strength and speed. We saw that in his fights with Doheny, Marlon Tapales and Luis Nery. Like many fighters who tardy down as they hit their 30s, Inoue is starting to show signs of slowing down, and that’s age. Inoue’s fans may not want to hear this, but they need to face the truth.

‘Monster’ Inoue is getting older and ready to take a beating. That’s why he hasn’t shown any interest in fighting Murodjon Akhmadaliev or moving on to fight the teenage lion Bruce Carrington, who is waiting to devour him at 126 pounds.

So Inoue has decided to remain committed to the 122 spot, choosing the light-hitting Sam Goodman for his next fight on December 24. Inoue is no longer willing to take risks. Fear has set in and has Inoue in its clutches. He can’t break free and he doesn’t even try. It would take an electric shock to pull Naoya out of his ambush and face talents like Murodjon and Carrington.

Questioning your own abilities

“I always say ’33 is the magic number.’ 33 is when fighters really start to decline. Inoue has a few more years. I saw an interview on ESPN about what he was going to do next, and he questioned his ability to advance [to 126]I have never heard him do anything like that in an interview,” Algieri said.

Inoue’s alleged comment questioning his ability to move up may explain his reluctance to move up to 126 after achieving his goal of becoming the undisputed super bantamweight champion last December by defeating Marlon Tapales. Fans expected Inoue to move up to featherweight after that win, but that didn’t happen. Instead, he stayed at 122, fighting Luis Nery and Doheny.

Are we giving the fans what they want?

“So I think it’s really telling, and I think you see it at 122. You see these guys. They’re just bigger people than him. These fans who criticize him for being human. It’s crazy. You have to look at his career as a whole and understand that he’s giving the fans what they want by taking on tougher challenges in bigger weight classes,” Algieri said of Inoue.

The fans would disagree with Algieri’s comment that Inoue was giving them the fights they wanted in the bigger weight classes because they didn’t want him to fight a skinny Luis Nery or TJ Doheny. Those were Inoue’s children. He wanted those fights, not the fans.

Fans wanted Inoue to fight these fighters:

  1. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
  2. Bruce Carrington
  3. Rafael Espinoza
  4. Jesse “Bam” Ridriguez
  5. Gervonta Davis
  6. Nick Ball

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George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Boxing

Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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Lauren Price looks to win Jonas vs Habazin with an undercard victory

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Lauren Price

Lauren Price MBE will defend her world title for the first time on Saturday, December 14 at the Exhibition Center in Liverpool, while the Welsh champion plans to stage an all-British unification clash with welterweight rival Natasha Jonas, which will headline the Collision Course that night.

Price defends her WBA welterweight title against undefeated Colombian challenger Bexcy Mateus on the same night as Jonas attempts to unify the IBF and WBC titles with Ivana Habazin as part of BOXXER’s ‘Collision Course’ fight night, which can be seen live and exclusively on Sky Sports in the UK UK and Ireland and Peacock in the US.

Price MBE (7-0, 1 KO) made history with an excellent performance, defeating former undisputed welterweight world ruler Jessica McCaskill in front of her fans in Cardiff in May.

Price, the first Welsh boxer to win Olympic gold, once again entered the record books by becoming the country’s first world champion in just her seventh professional fight. The 30-year-old from Ystrad Mynach, who has yet to lose a round as a professional, will now defend her world titles for the first time as she focuses on dominating the welterweight division.

Mateus (7-0, 6 KO), ranked No. 5 in the WBA rankings, is undefeated in the professional ranks and has won all but one of her seven fights by knockout. The 29-year-old from Bogota, fighting outside her native Colombia for the first time, will now have her first chance at global fame, with her goal to dethrone Price and take the top spot in the welterweight division.

Lauren Price said: “I’m excited to defend my belts and complete what has been an crucial year for me. I have full respect for Mateusz. I will prove that I am the best in the division and I will not let anything or anyone stand in my way of being undisputed.”

BOXXER Founder and CEO Ben Shalom said: “It’s a massive night for the women’s welterweight division with three world champions competing. Natasha Jonas returns to her hometown for a mandatory unification fight against Ivana Habazin, and Lauren Price defends her world titles against undefeated challenger Bexcy Mateus. The fight for the undisputed continues. If Natasha and Lauren win on December 14, it will set the stage for a massive “Battle Of Britain” world title unification fight next year.

There’s reason to celebrate as BOXXER delivers a Christmas cracker to end the year. In addition to the world championship fights between Natasha Jonas and Lauren Price, fight fans can expect a gala full of drama and entertainment.

Undefeated Irishman Stephen McKenna (15-0, 14 KO) will face English champion Lee Cutler (14-1, 7 KO) in an invigorating super welterweight fight for the silver WBC International title.

McKenna impressed fans in his three-round fight against Joe Laws last August at Oakwell Stadium in Barnsley. The two struck out in the first round, then McKenna began to apply the pressure, losing Laws three more times and maintaining his undefeated record after a third-round stoppage.

English cruiserweight champion Viddal Riley (11-0, 6 KO) returns to action from a rib injury that has kept him out of the ring since a career-best victory over Mikael Lawal in March. Riley will be looking to shake off the ring rust as he takes on high-profile opponents in the recent year.

Undefeated Chorley super middleweight Mark Jeffers (18-0, 5 KO) scored an explosive fifth-round knockout victory over Darren Johnston in May and will be looking to bring more drama to Liverpool’s Exhibition Center as he goes in search of his 19th professional win.

Mason Cartwright (20-4-1, 8 KO) from Cheshire, a former two-time British title challenger from Ellesmere Port, will be counting on local support as he returns to the title track.

After signing a promotional contract with BOXXER, local star Frankie Stringer (8-0, 1 KO) can achieve his third victory in 2024, when he returns in front of his fans in Liverpool. The 23-year-old lightweight fighter is a player of the notable city team Rotunda ABC, and his manager is former world champion Liam Smith.

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