BELFAST – With Irish eyes fixed on Belfast ahead of Paddy Donovan’s IBF world title bout with Lewis Crocker and boxing’s attention fixed on Las Vegas, the Japan world title bout between pound-for-pounder Naoya Inoue and Murodjon Akhmadaliev at the IG Arena in Nagoya is flying under the radar.
Inoue is 30-0 (27 KOs), while his California-based Uzbek challenger, a southpaw, is 14-1 (10 KOs).
“It’s a tough fight,” said Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, who promotes “MJ”. “I think you have to make Inoue the favorite because he’s in Japan, but I think MJ’s very dangerous. I mean, MJ is not the Mexican [Ramon Cardenas]. Inoue fought last time. MJ’s on another level to Cardenas, who dropped him in the fight before. [Luis] Nery dropped him [Inoue].
“He’s been down twice in the last few fights but sooner or later, you’re going to get dropped, and you ain’t gonna get up. And MJ can punch, and MJ technically is very, very good, and MJ will also exchange with him.
“But, you know, Inoue looks fired up for this one. I think they [Inoue’s team] know. Don’t forget, they’ve ducked MJ for over a year, and in the end, I’ve just goaded him enough to do it. So, they know how good MJ is. Brilliant fight. Best fight in the division.”
Asked about the fight not making headlines, Hearn explained: “I think that there’s a few reasons. Obviously, it’s a Japanese promotion. Top Rank have lost their ESPN deal. So, Japan own the international rights, and I’m getting loads of messages: ‘Where can I watch it?’ And it's not really our job. We don’t own any rights anywhere, but I know they are in conversations with broadcasters. But it is also Thursday.”
Are they in conversations with DAZN?
“I believe so, yeah,” Hearn continued. “But I think Top Rank have the US rights, but don't have anywhere to put it. And also, they announced yesterday that Inoue’s fighting [David] Picasso [on December 27]. I thought, ‘Very nice, let’s hope he gets fucking chinned on Sunday.’”
