Paul Butler, former bantamweight champion, has expressed that Naoya Inoue's decision in the post-fight interview to remain in the super bantamweight division at 122 lbs rather than moving up to featherweight is influenced by the considerable risks associated with the higher weight class.
Following Inoue's recent victory where he had to recover from a knockdown to secure a win against Luis Nery, concerns about Inoue’s vulnerability, particularly regarding his chin, have surfaced. This vulnerability could become a significant disadvantage against the more robust and skilled fighters at featherweight.
The super bantamweight division, according to critics, lacks the depth and caliber of fighters present at featherweight, making it a safer option for Inoue to dominate without facing substantial threats. Butler suggests that Inoue knows the challenges at featherweight would be far greater and that moving up could potentially expose him to defeats that could diminish his star power.
Watch the official post-fight interview: Watch
Butler also reflected on the size advantage that Inoue would lose if he moved up further, noting that while Inoue could compete at featherweight, moving beyond that to super featherweight or lightweight would be increasingly challenging due to size disparities.
Inoue's recent fight announcements also suggest a preference for safer matches, as evidenced by his next scheduled fight against Sam Goodman, a relatively unknown fighter from Australia, which many see as an easy match for Inoue. This choice further signals Inoue's cautious approach to managing his career.
Image Credit: Naoki Fukuda