Naoya Inoue Is 20-0 (18 KO) In Title Fights...

[Elheath]

Getting a high KO rate in title matches is also doable if you dodge unifications and just stick to crummy mandatory and voluntary defenses. What makes Inoue's career also a rarity for this era is how fast he challenged a world champion in this era. It has happened more often in the past, but frankly within the last decade, how many notable young prospects of any weight class these day became a two division champ by their 8th pro match?

Off the top of my head, there is Loma who won first title on 3rd match then second title on 7th match. Kosei Tanaka won on 5th and 8th match, but both Loma and Tanaka fought for a vacant belt for their first belt. Ioka was 7th and 11th, but I can't think of many more.

[moochi]

But he's not American or at least Mexican.

So according to most those important criteria are missed so bad luck.

Ps.. of course he's the clear P4P .1

[mrbig1]

People been saying for years that he was clearly the best. I've Alway said I need to see more. Well. I have seen more. He's a very good fighter. I don't know if he's the p4p best, but he is very good.

[crimsonfalcon07]

I couldn't disagree more with the bold. I'd agree you need more physical ability & talent on avg to be successful as a smaller guy since power is less in play, but the depth is definitely not there. The fact so many guys get into the top ten with less than ten fights & then fall off into medoracity when they lose kinda proves that.

The 3 weight thing is factually untrue. Of the 55 3 weight belt holders 20 (36%) did it in weights 126lbs or under. 9 (16%) of the 55 won their first belt at 105lbs. And I believe 105 to 112 is the most popular 3 belt guy altho I'd have to double check that to be 100%.

Still looks like there's a bigger percentage doing it at the higher weight classes than not. That's nearly half of all the weight classes, and only a third of the 3 belt holders within those 7 of 17 classes.

Falling into mediocrity speaks to my point that they have to be good to actually be successful at the lower weight classes. I agree that top 10, especially when it's alphabet organization rankings, means less at the lower weight classes. But the actual top guys tend to be pretty good, making it harder to move up and be a real top guy.

And Inoue has fought nothing but the best available competition his whole career, including the best guy in his divisional debut 3 times now. He's the kind of boxer fans wish every boxer was; literally signed a contract with the owner of his gym saying he'd never take easy fights. I can't think of another boxer who has taken the kind of fights he has at the rate he has, even historically. He's a real throwback to the notion of the best fighting the best.

Makes no sense to me why people try to deny his accomplishments. I'd think they'd want more fighters to emulate him, rather than be the modern sort that ducks top competition, lets fights "marinate" or wait until "they cross the street", or imposes rehydration clauses etc. He doesn't fight with rematch clauses, none of the BS we see from other top fighters. And he always shows up and shows out.

[Elheath]

Still looks like there's a bigger percentage doing it at the higher weight classes than not. That's nearly half of all the weight classes, and only a third of the 3 belt holders within those 7 of 17 classes.

Falling into mediocrity speaks to my point that they have to be good to actually be successful at the lower weight classes. I agree that top 10, especially when it's alphabet organization rankings, means less at the lower weight classes. But the actual top guys tend to be pretty good, making it harder to move up and be a real top guy.

And Inoue has fought nothing but the best available competition his whole career, including the best guy in his divisional debut 3 times now. He's the kind of boxer fans wish every boxer was; literally signed a contract with the owner of his gym saying he'd never take easy fights. I can't think of another boxer who has taken the kind of fights he has at the rate he has, even historically. He's a real throwback to the notion of the best fighting the best.

Makes no sense to me why people try to deny his accomplishments. I'd think they'd want more fighters to emulate him, rather than be the modern sort that ducks top competition, lets fights "marinate" or wait until "they cross the street", or imposes rehydration clauses etc. He doesn't fight with rematch clauses, none of the BS we see from other top fighters. And he always shows up and shows out.

His supporting party also has a good mind set too. When it was announced that Inoue was vacating his 108 belt and going up two divisions from 108 to 115 on his 8th match to face Omar Narvaez, practically every boxing ”expert” said it was still too early in his career, that he should take it slower to gain experience against weaker opponents, the risk was too high, etc etc... However, his trainer (father) said so what if he loses, then his son should learn from the loss and practice more, and come back stronger again for another challenge. That is the correct mindset you should have, not see who would give the best chance of winning to pad the resume while keeping the zero.

And for those who don't bother with the lower weights, Narvaez at the time was 43-1, but was undefeated in 13 matches at 115 and the number one rated guy in the division. His only loss was against a 28 years old Donaire in a UD in the one time he challenged 118 for the belt over three years ago. He had 11 straight defenses at 115 with three KO in the last four defenses leading up to Inoue. Inoue was 21 years old and 7-0 at the time.

Ironically, his total dominance of Narvaez left such an impact on the rest of 115 that afterwards no one wanted to fight him for three years.

[Oracle01]

Monster indeed.

And the clear P4P King.

vs who? those divisions are very thin, and the gaps between weights are so small. He is way over hyped. Its so easy to look great in his position, beating up dudes with no power.

[famicommander]

Forget the title defenses, look at the opposition. That's the most impressive thing:

Inoue's notable opponents, their TBRB rankings at the time of the fight, and their relevant title achievements:
#10 Ryoichi Taguchi (future WBA/IBF/Ring light flyweight champion)
#1 Adrian Hernandez (reigning WBC light flyweight champion; 2 division titlist overall)
#1 Omar Narvaez (reigning WBO super flyweight champion)
#8 Kohei Kono (2X former WBA super flyweight champion)
#5 Jamie McDonnell (former IBF bantamweight champion)
#5 Juan Carlos Payano (former WBA bantamweight champion)
#6 Emmanuel Rodriguez (reigning and future IBF bantamweight champion)
#4 Nonito Donaire (unification, reigning WBA bantamweight champion; 4 division titlist overall)
#8 Jason Moloney (future WBO bantamweight champion)
#2 Nonito Donaire (unification, reigning WBC bantamweight champion; 4 division titlist overall)
#8 Paul Butler (unification, reigning and 2X WBO bantamweight champion)
#1 Stephen Fulton (reigning WBC/WBO super bantamweight champion)

[_Rexy_]

vs who? those divisions are very thin, and the gaps between weights are so small. He is way over hyped. It’s so easy to look great in his position, beating up dudes with no power.

And yet, nobody else is doing it.

[Eff Pandas]

Still looks like there's a bigger percentage doing it at the higher weight classes than not. That's nearly half of all the weight classes, and only a third of the 3 belt holders within those 7 of 17 classes.

Falling into mediocrity speaks to my point that they have to be good to actually be successful at the lower weight classes. I agree that top 10, especially when it's alphabet organization rankings, means less at the lower weight classes. But the actual top guys tend to be pretty good, making it harder to move up and be a real top guy.

Ok to make it more obvious lets look at the 4 belt guys. I don't wanna look up all the 3 belt guys. There's only 22 4 belt guys so its easier to fook with.

In order of the lowest weight they won their belts at.

1- RJJ, 160 168, 175 & HW
2- Hearns, 147, 154, 160 & 175
3- SRL, 147, 154, 160 & 168
4- Canelo, 154, 160, 168 & 175
5- Cotto, 140, 147, 154 & 160
6- Duran, 135, 147, 154 & 160
7- Sweet Pea, 135, 140, 147 & 154
8- ODLH, 130, 135, 140 & 147
9- Floyd, 130, 135, 140 & 147
10- Broner, 130, 135, 140 & 147
11- JMM, 126, 130, 135 & 140
12- Mikey, 126, 130, 135 & 140
13- Morales, 122, 126, 130 & 140
14- LSC, 118, 122, 126 & 130
15- Manny, 112, 122, 126 & 130
16- Nonito, 112, 118, 122 & 126
17- Monster, 108, 115, 118 & 122
18- Gamaz, 105, 108, 112 & 115
19- Arce, 105, 115, 118 & 122
20- Roman, 105, 108, 112 & 115
21- Nietes, 105, 108, 112 & 115
22- Ioka, 105, 108, 112 & 115

4 of the 22 guys won the 105-115 belts. 130-147 has 3 guys. 126-140 has 2 guys. Its no mistake 105-115 are the 4 belt divisions with the lowest % in weight apart & the least boxers & the most 4 belt guys.

Its no mistake 9 of the 22 guys won their first belt in the 5 least deep divisions in boxing, 105-118lbs (under 1k boxers with 105 & 108 having under 400 boxers usually).

This isn't to say Ioka, Roman or Monster aren't talented, don't get me twisted or into suggesting something I'm not, but they had an easier path to belts due to the lower % weight gain needed & less depth not unlike female divisions where the top girls shine more easily as outliers.

[Boxing 112]

Inoue is pfp no1. But Bud is FOTY, thats a good tradeoff. I think Inoue gets FOTY too though to be frank.

Inoue will get FOTY. Becoming undisputed 2nd division in a year of moving up, and doing it in 2 fights against 2 unified champs that outweights the 1 GREAT win by Bud (and only 1 fight this year)