Comments Thread For: The Beltline: After a perfect run of three, Naoya Inoue takes his foot off the gas

[Roadblock]

Inoue will become the 1st fighter to stop dohney and he deserves credit for it.

A Racehorse doesn't deserve credit for trouncing a pony, the odds in this are as if Dohney doesn't exist, the only real credit in this matchup can be if Dohney can put up a competitive fight.

[SteveM]

Nobody has any reasonable complaint that he is taking this soft touch. Unlike the author alludes, Fulton was expected by some to beat Inoue prior to the fight. Tapales was unified and had just beaten M.A and Nery was considered a dangerous foe (and so it proved).

No other dominant champion consistently and repetitively fights dangerous challengers never taking an easier fight - not Mayweather, Bud, Ward, Tyson, SRL, - perhaps Hagler came the closest at the end of his career

[SteveM]

I'm going to watch it , Inoue doesn't deserve the negativity, neither does Doheny , he's like BUTTER , he's on a hot roll.

corny but good !!

[SteveM]

I wish i could ask Fulton what he thought of Inoue b4 the fight that he found out wasn't what he originally thought, after sharing the ring with him. Like, did he think Inoue would be too small or not pack enough of a punch to hurt him? Did he think his punches would hurt Inoue, or that he would be able to confuse Inoue with his unusual style? Did he think he could keep Inoue honest and make him slow down his normal attacking style? Did he have an accurate assessment of Inoue going in, or did he totally underestimate him? Or does he still not fully accept any idea that Inoue was somehow just better than him, and does he blame the outcome more on himself than on the abilities of Inoue? Also I wonder what he thinks of Inoue's skill, speed and power after being in there and facing him, as opposed to just seeing him from the outside looking in? I hope Fulton makes a full comeback and does better than ever. I think he's a great fighter

probably still blaming the wrapping on the gloves - that was what he was carping on about pre-fight

[BoxWhere]

A Racehorse doesn't deserve credit for trouncing a pony, the odds in this are as if Dohney doesn't exist, the only real credit in this matchup can be if Dohney can put up a competitive fight.

Except dohney is tough as hell. He has never been stopped and has only lost close desicions. So to dominate and stop him is amazing. And inoue rightfully deserves credit for it.

[Poopdick]

The expected fight was supposed to the Sam Goodman.
But Goodman gambled and decided to fight some Thai guy before that, and ended up breaking his hand. Real smart.

TJ Doheny has fought 3X in the last year in Japan. He has won all 3 by KO.
That's a main reason why he's fighting the Monster.
Inoue likes to stay busy.

yeah silly fighter wanted to fight often

[Tatabanya]

A Racehorse doesn't deserve credit for trouncing a pony, the odds in this are as if Dohney doesn't exist, the only real credit in this matchup can be if Dohney can put up a competitive fight.

I remember the same was being said before Inoue fought Dipaen. Nobody gave him more than one or two rounds of life, and he lasted eight or so. I even won good money on that late knockout, and I'll try to do the same with this fight.

Sometimes it seems that Inoue carries the fight a little longer when the opponent is not exceptional. See also Paul Butler.

[Hooded Terror]

Almost everybody buys into the alphabet soup game today. Four belts, which can take YEARS to pull together...then the demand for the Unisputed Champion to defend those belts. Well, think about the varying levels of mandatory contenders (some of them you've never watched or heard of) they would have to defend against, to say NOTHING of the $300k or so sanctioing fee they'd have to dish out to EACH sanctioning body. Economically it doesn't make sense. Throw in today's typical inactivity and half a decade, potentially, is in the offing for a guy to make it to the unification night.

The belts have been spun nicely but they are bargaining chips, at a certain point.

The intervention of the Middle East power brokers will invariably, ultimately show the belts true worth by forcing matches that would make champs think twice about their bargaining chip.

Monster deserves NO criticism for his next venture, a tune-up against a tough but limited fighter. If the guy is ranked then he's acceptable given Inoue's agenda to fight again in December. In the old days ALL of the greats fought tune-ups between title defenses. Today fans want "comic book fights" each and every time, and it isn't realistic.

[kiaba360]

Except dohney is tough as hell. He has never been stopped and has only lost close desicions. So to dominate and stop him is amazing. And inoue rightfully deserves credit for it.

Unlike the boxers that Doheny lost to, Inoue is a genuine KO puncher. I'll be shocked if Doheny goes 12.

[BustedKnuckles]

I wish i could ask Fulton what he thought of Inoue b4 the fight that he found out wasn't what he originally thought, after sharing the ring with him. Like, did he think Inoue would be too small or not pack enough of a punch to hurt him? Did he think his punches would hurt Inoue, or that he would be able to confuse Inoue with his unusual style? Did he think he could keep Inoue honest and make him slow down his normal attacking style? Did he have an accurate assessment of Inoue going in, or did he totally underestimate him? Or does he still not fully accept any idea that Inoue was somehow just better than him, and does he blame the outcome more on himself than on the abilities of Inoue? Also I wonder what he thinks of Inoue's skill, speed and power after being in there and facing him, as opposed to just seeing him from the outside looking in? I hope Fulton makes a full comeback and does better than ever. I think he's a great fighter

You shouldve been a sports reporter. Those are good questions.