Naoya Inoue Q&A – Part 2: Three fights in 2024, featherweight in 2025, appealing to American fans, fighting in the U.S.

Famous sports activities journalist Daisuke Sugiura, a RingTV.com contributor and a member of the Ring Rankings Panel, lately sat down with Naoya Inoue on the Japanese famous person’s dwelling gymnasium in Yokohama. The undisputed junior featherweight champion candidly shared his ideas on an eventual transfer to featherweight, his ceiling when it comes to weight climbing, his curiosity in boxing past his personal profession, and his need to “crossover” with the American boxing public, amongst different topics.

Daisuke Sugiura interviewed Naoya Inoue on the Ohashi Boxing Gymnasium in Yokohama, Japan on January 24. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

I‘m certain you’ve been requested this many occasions, however how for much longer do you propose to combat at tremendous bantamweight?

I’m planning on preventing 3 times this 12 months. I’m certain these three fights will happen at tremendous bantamweight. My transfer as much as featherweight will depend upon how I really feel and the way my physique feels subsequent 12 months.

Are you preventing in Could, September and December?

Sure, most likely round that timeframe.

You beforehand informed me that your weight ceiling goes to be the featherweight division. Is that also the case?

Sure, most definitely I’ll solely transfer as much as featherweight.

I really feel like your ideas in your weight division ceiling will not be nicely understood by abroad followers. Some individuals are nonetheless clamoring for a combat with light-weight beltholder Gervonta Davis, however that gained’t occur. Your motive for transferring up in weight courses will not be since you assume you possibly can win or generate profits, however quite to maneuver as much as a division the place you possibly can carry out at your finest. Am I right?

You’re right.

Inoue says his weight climbing will finish at featherweight. Acting at his best possible is extra essential to him that cash and fame. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

And proper now, the burden division the place you possibly can carry out your finest is at tremendous bantamweight/junior featherweight, and doubtless featherweight sooner or later.

Sure, that’s about it. I all the time need to present the most effective Naoya Inoue. I wouldn’t resolve to start out preventing at featherweight or tremendous featherweight simply because the cash is sweet. I don’t assume that’s what I need. There are numerous fighters who’ve chased the cash however ended up not having the ability to carry out nicely and give up. The explanation I field will not be for the cash; I do that to point out my finest self. It’s additionally true that I’m motivated by preventing sturdy opponents, however there are weight divisions in boxing for a motive.

Is it tough to make weight even at tremendous bantamweight?

I often weigh round 64 or 65 kg [141 or 143 pounds between fights], so I’ve to lose 9 or 10 kg [20 to 22 pounds] earlier than the combat. But it surely’s not that unhealthy.

If you transfer as much as featherweight, will you must add muscle to your physique?

I don’t must construct my physique as much as transfer as much as featherweight. I’ll transfer up as soon as my physique naturally grows into the heavier weight class. This has been the case all through my skilled profession.

You talked about Terence Crawford’s identify earlier, so have you ever been paying extra consideration to your pound-for-pound rival these days?

I strive to concentrate to it. Nonetheless, I don’t actually watch heavyweights or the heavier weight courses. I do know Oleksandr Usyk is meant to combat Tyson Fury, however the [heavier] weight courses are so totally different that I don’t really feel like watching or checking it out. It’s only a totally different sort of boxing than mine. It’s nearly a very totally different sport.

You’re not the kind of one that watches boxing on a regular basis, are you?

No, I’m not. I watch when my stablemates from the Ohashi Gymnasium combat, however I’m often probably not within the fights abroad that a lot, to be sincere.

Since profitable each the Ring Journal and BWAA Fighter of the Yr honors, do you care extra about “crossing over” to an extent with the American boxing public?

I’m beginning to care about that loads. Profitable an award just like the Fighter of the Yr ought to assist my standing. I don’t stay in america, so I don’t know how many individuals are thinking about boxing, or what number of of them are thinking about me, however I’m beginning to concentrate to on-line articles extra.

Naoya Inoue has turn into a mega-star in Japan, however he desires to be embraced by American followers too. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

Your self-awareness has modified a little bit as your international status has elevated.

Nicely, that’s true. Ever since I entered the pound-for-pound rankings, and began to climb to the highest, I’ve began paying extra consideration to it.

Will you and [your Japan-based co-promoter] Mr. [Hideyuki] Ohashi take into account future combat dates within the U.S.?

I all the time have a need to combat within the U.S. Sure, I undoubtedly need to combat there once more. Nonetheless, Japan is now turning into a giant market too. I believe the rationale behind desirous to seize the “American Dream” is that in case you accomplish one thing within the U.S, identify recognition and massive cash will comply with. However, these days, on this streaming period, in case you are profitable in Japan, you may make thousands and thousands even within the lighter-weight divisions. That’s why [Stephen] Fulton got here to Japan, and the large fights are simpler to make in Japan.

Proper, that is the period of the “Japanese Dream,” particularly for smaller fighters.

Sure, everybody desires to combat in Japan. I really feel that issues are altering in that route. Initially, everybody needed to combat in America as a result of there was a chance to make massive cash because of a system like PPV. These days, Japan has turn into the stage that lighter-weight class fighters aspire to compete in.

I believe you’re the fighter that began this motion. Not too long ago, you may have turn into the champion that many notable fighters need to combat. Do you’re feeling your opponents are learning you extra these days?

After all, I really feel that I’m being studied. Within the newest combat towards [Marlon] Tapales, I received the impression that Tapales was preventing extra defensively. After all, I believe he fought defensively as a result of it was towards me, however when champion-class fighters simply give attention to protection, it’s tough to make it an thrilling combat. If I preserve my distance, use my legs and jab, and combat defensively, I could make the combat much less thrilling too.

So, you didn’t assume Tapales was really making an attempt to win?

I’m curious as to what he was pondering when he selected to combat like that.

Naoya Inoue progressively broke by way of Marlon Tapales’ cagey shell protection. Photograph by Naoki Fukuda

What do you consider the opinion that the effectiveness of your punches has decreased a little bit after transferring as much as tremendous bantamweight?

I’m nonetheless assured that if I hit somebody cleanly, I can knock anybody out, at any time. It’s simply that the items didn’t match collectively towards Tapales. Even the 2 knockdowns weren’t as crisp as I needed, quite, it was a gentle assault that brought about him to fall down in disgust.

Are you now within the latter half of your profession? Or are you nearing the tip?

Now I’m coming into the final 5 years. I’ve been pondering of the primary 5 years, the center 5 years, and the final 5 years.

However you don’t really feel such as you’ve handed your prime but, do you?

No, in no way.

Do you’re feeling you’re in your absolute prime now?

Now I can objectively take a look at what I need to do within the ring extra, and I’m able to convey it into the combat. I are likely to assault from the start, and up till now, because of the expertise I had amassed over the a long time, my physique was in a position to reply even after I was nervous or my thoughts was clean. Not too long ago, nonetheless, I are likely to assume first within the ring, keep calm, after which act. My psychological sport through the fights has been altering.

That’s a optimistic factor, proper?

It’s extraordinarily optimistic.

Final time we spoke, you mentioned you weren’t certain in case you needed to remain in boxing after retiring from being an expert fighter. How do you’re feeling now?

What do you assume? I believe I’ll be concerned in boxing. Most probably (chortle). I really feel like I need to keep on what Mr. Ohashi has created. It’s as a result of accomplishments of Mr. Ohashi that Ohashi Gymnasium [and promotional company] has turn into this massive. I believe it will likely be extraordinarily tough to proceed this fashion, and I believe it’s as much as the individuals who come after him to convey it down or enhance it.

So, do you need to turn into Mr. Ohashi’s successor?

What I’m doing now as an energetic fighter is essential, in fact, however I’d prefer to proceed constructing on what Mr. Ohashi has created. I consider that’s how I’d prefer to repay him for elevating and guiding me so nicely.