If he wants the super fights and legacy, he has got to push for 130 that's where he becomes legendary as its always been the beginning of the glamour divisions.
I see it as a waste of greatness to hang around in a rather weak division.
what super fights are there at 130lbs? inoue is already a legend. he just got to 122lbs he hasn't even fought at featherweight yet. you want him to go to 130 already? hahaha featherweight is way more glamorous than junior lightweight. featherweight is one of the 8 original weight classes.
But who is he going to fight after 2024 if he stays at 122? If all goes well, he will be unified after Tapales and once he finish the notable name like MJ, Nery, Casimero and then just do two easy defense a year until retirement sounds very dull for him and his fans.
I actually like Inoue and his straight up belt chasing ways...fight whoever that has the belts regardless of name value, and fights that only involve belts aka defense. Even if he loses someday, it will atleast be a title match at a higher weight. Certainly better than dodging the other notable belt holder(s) to fight a non-boxer for more money.
If he wants the super fights and legacy, he has got to push for 130 that's where he becomes legendary as its always been the beginning of the glamour divisions.
I see it as a waste of greatness to hang around in a rather weak division.
126 is historically a more significant and glamorous division than 130. I don't see how 130 will add much to his legacy other than the status of 6 division champion.
How much better is 126
I’m unfamiliar with these smaller classes
If he wants the super fights and legacy, he has got to push for 130 that's where he becomes legendary as its always been the beginning of the glamour divisions.
I see it as a waste of greatness to hang around in a rather weak division.
Tapales is for the undisputed so a given regardless of name value, but then he is probably going to use 2024 fights to get his body filled and prepped for the inevitable 126 come beginning of 2025, they aren't really considered a challenge I bet. It is in a way low risk high return (good money while prepping his body) that will sell.
Casimero is because he can shut him and his fans up once and for all.
Nery is revenge for the BS he pulled against his respected countryman and friend Yamanaka.
MJ for any naysayers that Tapales was lucky to win those belts and MJ is better.
Inoue had an interview/talk show in Tokyo recently and said again that his plan was to do one more match this year, then hopefully three fights next year then move up to 126 for 2025 at age 32. He also added that maybe for his final fight of his career he might try one match at 130 but I am getting the impression that his main goal is to become 5 division champ undisputed in three weight class with 126 essentially being his final real weight class before retirement.
So Tapales followed by cleaning out 122 lbs of Nery, Casimero, and MJ next year is still his plan.
Why not clean out the division when youâre on your 3rd or 4th
modern boxing is too fixated on going up in weight
Because nobody there will pose a threat?
He must be an nsb lurker because there has been people around here that claimed he's duck nery and cashimero and that mj would give him problems.
Besides he's just moved up. What are people expecting?