Would it be fair to say Inoue is ducking MJ?

[Beercules]

Jordan by KO round 6 would be my pick.

Yup around there. Jordan was a top athlete. Yeah he smoked and drank. Prime Jordan (with a proper camp) would KO the Jap.

[famicommander]

Yeah, there's really no excuse. Doheny is definitely a villain in Japan at this point, not quite at the level of Nery, but I understand why they're pursuing a fight with him. He's definitely the most lucrative fight available to them in September without moving up.

But to fight him instead of the #1, and dropping a belt to do it, is not justifiable. Akhmadaliev is clearly the best guy in the division he hasn't already beaten while Doheny is a fringe top 10 guy who hasn't had a big win since 2019 in his only successful world title defense.

[crimsonfalcon07]

I'd love to hear more about why that's happening. It's very uncharacteristic for Inoue. Hearsay suggests that Goodman turning down his shot and the timing of the WBA order had a lot to do with it. I suspect Inoue fights MJ next, but we'll see.

Ducking is what Canelo did with Benavidez and Morrell. This is way too early to call IMO.