Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion, has been mandated by the WBA to defend his title against mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The two fighters have until July 30th to negotiate a deal before a purse bid is scheduled, with the deadline for their bout set for September 25th.
Inoue, who has already dominated the 122-pound division, faces a significant decision on whether to stay and defend his title or move up in weight. Some fans speculate that Inoue might be reluctant to move to the 126-pound division, where he would encounter more challenging opponents that could potentially affect his popularity in Japan. However, staying at 122 pounds and defending against Akhmadaliev does not seem appealing to U.S. fans or beneficial for his career progression. To gain better ratings and recognition, Inoue needs to face high-profile fighters like Gervonta Davis, Vasily Lomachenko, and Shakur Stevenson, ideally fighting in the U.S.
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Currently, Inoue, with a perfect record of 27 wins, must decide whether to defend against Akhmadaliev or vacate his title. He also faces an IBF mandatory defense against Sam Goodman, which might be an easier bout due to Goodman’s lesser punching power. A strategic move for Inoue would be to vacate his super bantamweight titles and advance to the featherweight division, where more competitive and lucrative fights await him. Potential opponents at featherweight include Nick Ball, Luis Alberto Lopez, Rafael Espinoza, Raymond Ford, and Robeisy Ramirez.
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