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Naoya Inoue continues to perform at a high level – but is there a disturbing problem lurking?

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Naoya Inoue believes his busy schedule this year has been crucial in building momentum ahead of a potential mega fight with Junto Nakatani in 2026.

The undisputed junior featherweight world champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world is widely expected to defend his titles against Mexican challenger Alan Picasso on December 27 at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. Inoue’s Japanese opponent, Nakatani, will face Sebastian Hernandez in the co-main event of the gala.

Then, if “The Monster” Inoue (31-0, 27 KO) and Nakatani (31-0, 24 KO) remain champions, they will be treated to a polite face-to-face meeting once their 2026 fight is officially announced at the Tokyo Dome.

Too many fights? Naoya Inoue dismisses the issue

Inoue, 32, will defend his junior featherweight title for the seventh time against Picasso, which will be his fourth fight this year. No other men’s world boxing champion can match Inoue’s activity this year, and some wonder if it was too much.

After Ki Ye-Joon’s 4th round knockout, Inoue even admitted that he was “mentally exhausted.” In May, Inoue was dropped by Ramon Cardenas in Round 2, but quickly recovered and stopped Cardenas in Round 8. Inoue’s third fight of the year was a masterful performance as he maintained a relentless pace to pass Murodjon Akhmadaliev by unanimous decision in September.

For Inoue, this year’s schedule was perfect.

“First of all, I like fighting, and secondly, I want to build my career step by step, so I decided to fight four times this year,” he told ESPN.

“It’s very significant and very good for me that I will fight four fights in the year before the fight with Nakatani.”

Inoue, a world champion in four weight classes, was recently named second, behind super middleweight champion Terence Crawford, on ESPN’s list of the top 100 boxing fighters of 2025.

A victory over Nakatani, his Japanese rival who trains in Los Angeles, could vault him to the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings in a clash that is being hailed as the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.

Nakatani, 27, who stands three inches taller at 5-foot-7, has also been busy this year recording stoppage victories against Ryosuke Nishida and David Cuellar Contreras.

“This [fight vs. Nakatani] “It’s going to be a large fight in Japan and it’s going to be a historic, large fight and a lot of people are going to be interested in seeing it not only in Japan,” Inoue told ESPN.

Inoue held the junior flyweight, junior bantamweight, bantamweight and junior featherweight world belts. Despite knockdowns in two of his last five fights (against Cardenas and Luis Nery in May 2024), Inoue believes that junior featherweight is the optimal weight class for him.

“I feel like I’m the best in the junior featherweight division, better than in other weight classes,” Inoue told ESPN.

Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KO) impressively defeated Kyonosuke Kameda by majority decision in July.

“I didn’t look at his last fight, I’ll just focus on winning,” Inoue told ESPN.

Inoue, who confirmed to ESPN that he will move up to featherweight at some point, believes Japanese boxing can become even better than the boom it is currently enjoying. Seven world boxing champions come from Japan in the men’s and women’s sport, as well as Nakatani, who relinquished his world bantamweight titles in September.

“There are a lot of up-and-coming boxers from Japan, a lot of up-and-coming talented fighters, so I believe that Japanese boxing will get better and better,” Inoue told ESPN.

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Gervonta Davis called out by world champion for mega fight: “I need it”

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Gervonta Davis called out by world champion for mega fight: “I need it”

Gervonta Davis’ future is currently in doubt, but that’s not stopping one of the reigning world champions from calling out ‘Tank’ for a showdown.

It was over a year since Davis last saw action in March 2025 against Lamont Roach Jr. This fight ended in a controversial majority draw, but “Tank” still defended his WBA lightweight title.

Since then, however, the Baltimore man’s life has been extremely hard. A first-time exhibition with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, scheduled for November, was canceled after Davis found himself at the center of domestic violence allegations.

Further allegations led to “Tank” losing his WBA belt and being declared champion during his hiatus, but earlier this year reports surfaced that he could return against former foe and current WBC interim super lightweight champion Isaac Cruz.

After Ryan Garcia posted, it’s yet another former foe of Davis who is now calling for a rematch social media his intention to secure a second fight.

“I pray I get a tank rematch one day. I need it back on equal footing. I need it!!!”

Garcia suffered a seventh-round loss to Davis when they met in April 2023, but “King Ry” has repeatedly said since the fight that he was far from his best as it was a 136-pound catchweight fight with a 10-pound rehydration clause.

in February Garcia defeated Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight titleand if Davis decides to campaign at 147 pounds, the prospect of winning world titles in another weight class could tempt him into a rematch with “King Ry.”

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Eddie Hearn warns that Zuffa athletes could lose their world title eligibility

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Image: Eddie Hearn Says Zuffa Fighters Should Lose Access To World Titles

“I think there will be a large split in boxing now,” promoter Matchroom Hearn told the media. “If you go with Zuffa, you’re out of the governing bodies. I think that’s really what it’s going to have to be like.”

Hearn’s comments come at a time when Zuffa Boxing is gaining momentum and gaining attention from fighters and promoters across the sport. The long-term question was whether the events would interact with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO systems, or go in a different direction.

Hearn explained his position.

“If you sign with Zuffa, you can’t win the world championship,” he said. “You can’t have it both ways.”

He pointed to the recent movement to include titleholders and challengers, arguing that fighters who leave the customary route are giving up some of what boxing has historically valued most.

“Legacy will always be the answer,” Hearn said.

This line leads to a real fight under the headlines. Zuffa can offer money, platform power and stern promotion via TKO. Time-honored boxing still offers belts, rankings and the story behind becoming a champion.

Many competitors will try to secure both if possible. Hearn is doubtful whether the balance can be maintained.

Hearn also criticized recent arguments against the Ali Act and said income transparency remains one of the strongest protections for combatants in the current US system.

Whether fans agree with Hearn or not, he touched on something real. Boxing may be heading down two separate paths, and fighters will soon have to decide which is more vital.

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Moses Itauma is open to fighting the “legend” KO artist who wants to test his beard

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Moses Itauma open to facing KO artist ‘legend’ who wants to test his chin

Moses Itauma is willing to face the uncompromising heavyweight veteran after his last fight, a methodical fifth-round stoppage victory over Jermaine Franklin.

The 21-year-old showed his world-class potential last month, scoring a third-round knockout before stopping the typically tough Franklin with a powerful uppercut.

Itauma has since been named mandatory challenger for the WBO title, putting him in pole position to face the winner of the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois fight at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9.

However, this highly developed talent is ranked No. 1 in the WBA and No. 2 in the WBC, which gives him several options to consider before his next assignment.

WITH Itauma is reportedly expected to return in JulySeveral candidates are already being considered as potential opponents, including the likes of Murat Gassiev and Filip Hrgovic.

As for a potential fight with Deontay Wilder, Itauma said DAZN in preparations for the American’s fight with Derek Chisora, that he would be open to fighting him.

“If he wins, yes. You have to weigh the risk against the reward. What do you get [from fighting] his?

“He is a legend in the sport and I really respect him, but you have to weigh the pros and cons.”

After suffering two knockdowns and beating Chisora ​​by split decision earlier this month, former world champion Wilder is looking for another chance.

I’m talking to ESPNThe 40-year-old said he was not in the mood to avoid potential opponents, including Itauma, who made a huge impression on him against Franklin.

“I’m a heavyweight. All the other characters are heavyweights. Why not? I’m not [dodging] anyone.

“I didn’t know who Moses was, but I saw his last fight with Franklin… What a damn KO. He seems like a potential champion. Why not test him?”

Since their confused encounter, Chisora ​​has demanded an immediate rematch with Wilder, who will likely face an alternate opponent in his next fight.

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