Inoue vs Kim: Why are there no rumors?

There are two days left until unified super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue’s title defense against his substitute opponent Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs), and surprisingly there are zero hum about this fight on Friday, January 24.

(Credit: Naoki Fakuda)

No rumors

It’s a sign that Japanese star ‘Monster’ Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) needs to challenge himself by moving up to featherweight so he can start facing opposition that matters to the rest of the world outside of his home country. origin, Japan. about.

Inoue is quite rich, fights whoever he wants, and may not mind taking risks at this point in his career. He has had it easy, winning world titles in four divisions and not facing anyone more risky than Nonito Donaire, 36 years old. Inoue suffered a fractured right orbital bone and a broken nose in their first fight on November 7, 2019. You can only imagine what a younger Donaire would have done to Inoue.

The event will air live on ESPN+ this Friday at 4:15 a.m. ET/1:15 a.m. PT from Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, in Tokyo, Japan. Few American boxing fans will watch this fight because they won’t want to get up early on Friday to see what looks to be another lopsided showdown for Inoue. You have to wonder what Top Rank thinks about this fight.

Inoue, 31, was scheduled to defend himself against his mandate. Sam Goodmanbut he retired with an eye injury. That was as mediocre a fight as Kim’s, and the fans had no interest.

Featherweight Options

It’s unclear why Naoya stubbornly chooses to stay at 122 to fight the dark opposition instead of rising to 126 to face these assassins:

– Rafael Espinoza
– King Vargas
–Bruce Carrington
– Angel Leo
–Nick Ball
–Brandon Figueroa
– Sulaimán Segawa
– Otabek Jolamatov

The answer is pretty obvious as to why Inoue chooses not to move up to featherweight. It’s too difficult. You can argue that Naoya doesn’t want to lose, obviously, and see the bottom of his career. I can’t blame him for the easy money that comes in without Inoue taking any risk. I’d probably do the same. It’s better than working for a living.

Don’t take risks, get easy money and Delight in the soft contrast of filet mignon for the next ten years before retiring. He’s weak, obviously, but it’s better than getting knocked out at featherweight against one of the assassins.