Bob Arum unveils three-fight plan for Naoya Inoue
Naoya Inoue, one of boxing's pound-for-pound stars, has already cemented his place as a two-division undisputed champion. Now, as rumors swirl about a potential move to featherweight, promoter Bob Arum has shared plans for Inoue’s next three fights, hinting at a future showdown that could be the biggest in Japanese boxing history.
Inoue, dubbed "The Monster," became an undisputed bantamweight champion after knocking out Paul Butler in 2022. He then swiftly dominated the super-bantamweight division, claiming another undisputed title after defeating Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales. Despite calls for him to test his limits at featherweight, Inoue has remained committed to the 122-pound division, defending his titles against Luis Nery and TJ Doheny in 2024.
Next up for Inoue is a December 24th clash against unbeaten Australian and IBF mandatory challenger Sam Goodman, with an official announcement expected soon. However, the real buzz surrounds a potential 2025 fight against fellow Japanese star and bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani.
Bob Arum has confirmed that plans for an Inoue-Nakatani showdown are in the works, marking what could be a historic event for Japanese boxing. “Hopefully, they both keep winning. And it will be the biggest fight in the history of boxing in Japan,” Arum told Boxing News. He added that the bout, if all goes to plan, would be staged at the iconic Tokyo Dome.
Before this highly anticipated matchup, Inoue is expected to fight again in April 2025 in the United States, potentially sharing a card with Nakatani. The hope is that both fighters will continue their winning streaks, building towards the massive Tokyo Dome showdown that could rival any event in Japanese boxing history.
With the official announcement of Inoue’s December fight looming and excitement building for a future clash with Nakatani, the world will be watching as "The Monster" continues to carve his name into boxing’s elite.
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