Promoter Eddie Hearn known as out Naoya Inoue to battle his #1 WBA contender, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs), following his third-round knockout victory over Ricardo Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs) on Saturday evening on the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn is attempting to disgrace Inoue, 31, and his crew into making the battle with Akhamadaliev, however that doesn’t determine to be efficient. Inoue has been resistant to stress from the general public his whole profession, ignoring their pleas for him to battle higher opposition.
He’s coasted via 12 years of feasting on tomato cans, successful three division world titles in opposition to flawed fighters. He’s not going to react to being shamed by Hearn by combating Akhmadaliev and certain getting knocked out in the identical means Ricardo Espinoza was tonight.
Akhmadaliev knocked Espinoza down thrice within the third spherical to get a stoppage at 2:59. After the battle, Akhmadaliev challenged undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion Inoue to face them subsequent after his subsequent title protection in opposition to #1 IBF and #1 WBO Sam Goodman on January twenty fourth.
Will Inoue Vacate?
Hearn mentioned he thinks Crew Inoue will “keep away from” Akhmadaliev. If he doesn’t battle him, he expects Naoya to vacate his WBA title. He may very well try this as a result of he’s anticipated to maneuver as much as 126 quickly after his fights in opposition to Goodman (19-0, 9 KOs) on January twenty fourth and Junto Nakatani.
The Danger Averse Champion
Akhmadaliev has virtually no probability of getting right into a battle with Noue as a result of he’s too proficient, and the Japanese star has grow to be risk-averse. Inoue has by no means fought anybody good throughout his 12-year profession. So you possibly can say that he was by no means a risk-taker.
“I’m prepared. Let’s go, Naoya. Why is he ducking me? If he doesn’t need to battle with me, he wants to elucidate as a result of after I was a champion, I adopted the foundations and he ought to observe the foundations as properly,” mentioned Murodjon Akmadaliev throughout an interview following his knockout of Ricardo Espinoza on Saturday evening, calling out undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.
“I had necessary. I used to be combating them with none dialogue. So, I would like an evidence as a result of I’m right here and prepared for the battle. One of the best ought to be combating the most effective. I’m necessary, and [WBA] interim champion. He [Inoue] ought to show he’s the most effective in his division. He’s a legend. He ought to show it as properly,” mentioned Akhmadaliev about Naoya Inoue.
I don’t assume there’s something Akhmadaliev and Hearn can do to power Naoya into combating him. He’s going to make his rescheduled title protection in opposition to the light-hitting Sam Goodman subsequent on January 24 and possibly battle Junto Nakatania after that. He’s one other beatable man.
Naoya’s Avoidance Techniques
“We’ve delivered him the battle. It’s not been known as as soon as. It’s been known as twice by the WBA,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn a few battle being ordered twice for his fighter Akhmadaliev. “The primary time, they paid for an exception to duck MJ.
“The second time was iron in writing. They needed to battle him. They discovered a approach to keep away from him [Akhmadaliev] once more. Naoya Inoue is a pound-for-pound legend. We respect him. He’s an unbelievable fighter. There’s one factor he hasn’t bought. That’s Uzbek energy.
“I’m telling you. There’s just one fighter within the [super bantamweight] division that may compete with him, not to mention beat him, and that’s MJ. I inform you now, and also you log this. This man [Akhmadaliev] will beat Naoya Inoue.
“He has all the abilities, all the flexibility, and the pedigree. I totally consider he’ll beat him. We’ll do it in Japan. They need to have fought one another for the undisputed championship. We [Akhmadaliev] misplaced a choice that we didn’t consider we deserved to lose [against Marlon Tapales by a 12-round split decision on April 8, 2023],” mentioned Hearn about Akhmadaliev’s controversial choice loss to Tapales final 12 months.
That was a uncooked deal that Akhmadaliev was given, dropping to Tapales by 12-round choice final 12 months in April 2023. It’s too unhealthy there was by no means a rematch as a result of there ought to have been.
“Twice, he’s [Naoya] been known as to battle him. He’s the one fighter within the division, and there are individuals on the market who say, ‘Oh no, Naoya doesn’t duck anybody.’ Perhaps Inoue doesn’t, however his crew do, as a result of all people in boxing is aware of how good he [Akhmadaliev] is.
“Uzbek Energy”
“Let the most effective battle the most effective. It’s the one battle within the division. It’s the most effective fights within the sport. I inform you what. I’ll guess the home on it. This younger man beat Naoya Inoue. I’ll inform you one thing else. I’ll guess you they by no means battle him. After this battle with [Sam] Goodman,
“He’s both bought to vacate or battle him. I guess you they keep away from him. In the event that they do, don’t begin calling him pound-for-pound #1 as a result of this man will beat him. Uzbek energy, stick your home on it,” mentioned Hearn.
Naoya goes to vacate his 4 titles at 122, however he’ll try this with out combating Akhmadaliev as a result of he’s a risk to beating him. He’s cautious and all the time has been.
