Comments Thread For: Naoya Inoue to fight again in December - then in the U.S. in 2025

[Corelone]

I'd go to Vegas if Inoue fights MJ. Probably not if it's Goodman.

I'd go to Vegas for that myself. Thats actually my complaint. I love Japan. This is not a cultural or racial complaint. Japan is a rock and everything exotic has to be imported. If I fun about their humble promotions, I give Eddy more and some people less attention..

[cork]

I wonder how the money is going to work. He makes his opponents millionaires in Japan. I don't see how they're gonna generate that money that Inoue normally gets.

He's probably gonna have to take a huge paycut.

[Elheath]

I wonder how the money is going to work. He makes his opponents millionaires in Japan. I don't see how they're gonna generate that money that Inoue normally gets.

He's probably gonna have to take a huge paycut.

I have a feeling the December card will be in Japan against Goodman funded by Ohashi and sponsors like all the other Inoue cards, while the one in Vegas next year against MJ Arum/Eddie is hoping that Turki funds (like the Crawford card in August).

If that is the case, they probably can have another Superfly-esque major lighter division oriented card featuring Inoue, Nakatani, Bam, along with maybe an unification or something at featherweight?

I mean, dreaming is free.

[Elheath]

Heck, I just googled and found out that Espinoza is co-promoted by Top Rank now, which makes it even better.

Main event 122 undisputed defense Inoue vs MJ
Co-feature 126 unification Rafael Espinoza vs Angelo Leo
118 Nakatani defense (or possibly a Takuma unification to add further drama in the future, but that probably sells better in Japan...maybe a defense against former champions E-Rod or Jason Moloney? At least it will be fireworks)
115 Bam defense (I read that Fernando Martinez is possibly rematching Ioka on NYE and not sure if Top Rank has connections with Tanaka).

Again, dreaming is free. And I'm sure Eddie and MJ would be willing to wait for this past December.

[Elheath]

April 2025 in Vegas, 126 and below super card funded by Turki.

122 Inoue (Top Rank) vs MJ (Matchroom) undisputed defense
126 Espinoza (Top Rank) vs Leo (Top Rank) unification...winner getting Inoue when he goes up to 126 end of 2025 after fighting Nakatani.
118 Nakatani (Top Rank) vs Jason Moloney (Top Rank) voluntary defense and showcase to USA.
115 Bam Rodriguez (Matchroom) vs Estrada (Matchroom) rematch.

Four title fights, and add whatever prospects/contenders from 126 and below like Carrington (Top Rank) or Sunny Edwards (Matchroom) or whatever that they want to show off in the preliminary rounds to fill the rest of the card. There's the perfect plan layed out for Arum and Eddie. Now all I need is access to Saudi money.

[The Big Dunn]

April 2025 in Vegas, 126 and below super card funded by Turki.

122 Inoue (Top Rank) vs MJ (Matchroom) undisputed defense
126 Espinoza (Top Rank) vs Leo (Top Rank) unification...winner getting Inoue when he goes up to 126 end of 2025 after fighting Nakatani.
118 Nakatani (Top Rank) vs Jason Moloney (Top Rank) voluntary defense and showcase to USA.
115 Bam Rodriguez (Matchroom) vs Estrada (Matchroom) rematch.

Four title fights, and add whatever prospects/contenders from 126 and below like Carrington (Top Rank) or Sunny Edwards (Matchroom) or whatever that they want to show off in the preliminary rounds to fill the rest of the card. There's the perfect plan layed out for Arum and Eddie. Now all I need is access to Saudi money.

Good post. I would think Leo v Inoue since Bob controls both. Don’t think Bob would bring him to America for just a mando defense.

Love the idea of putting Nakatani on the card. I doubt that Bam v Estrada would be on that part of the card. Too significant a fight.

How about:

Leo v Inoue
Nakatani v Moloney
Shu Shu v Ball or Espinoza ( title fight. Shu shu is the mando for Ball and #2 for espinoza)

[Elheath]

Good post. I would think Leo v Inoue since Bob controls both. Don’t think Bob would bring him to America for just a mando defense.

Love the idea of putting Nakatani on the card. I doubt that Bam v Estrada would be on that part of the card. Too significant a fight.

How about:

Leo v Inoue
Nakatani v Moloney
Shu Shu v Ball or Espinoza ( title fight. Shu shu is the mando for Ball and #2 for espinoza)

The only thing is if they are hoping to have Inoue vs Nakatani at Tokyo Dome redux later next year then Inoue going up to 126 and fighting Leo (and vacating his 122 undisputed in process) in May only to return down to 122 for a Nakatani clash doesn't make sense for Inoue, nor making Nakatani skip 122 completely to meet Inoue at 126 will not be fair and leave unnecessary excuses. I am hoping for Turki involvement because Bob may not be willing to fund Inoue for mando defense but Turki might be willing to fund Inoue vs MJ, and having Espinoza vs Leo on same card can get that well needed number one guy of featherweight to face Inoue, with both being a Top Rank promoted guy. Carrington-Ball is a good potential fight except Ball is a Warren dude if I recall, so not sure if they are willing to potentially risk losing against Shu Shu knowing Inoue is literally around the corner...who knows, maybe Turki can pay enough to make it happen anyway. Bam-Estrada rematch I just threw in just for the dream for all three top dogs of 115-118-122 being on the same card.

April 2025 Vegas (Turki funded cross promoted): Inoue-MJ, Espinoza-Leo, Nakatani-Moloney, Ball-Carrington or if not then Carrington vs Top Rank guys like Robeisy or Kholmatov?
Summer 2025 Tokyo Dome redux (Ohashi/Teiken main promoted): Inoue-Nakatani super Japan based card surrounded by the ton of below 118 Japanese champions.
December 2025 USA again (Top Rank main promoted): 126 debut Inoue-Espinoza/Leo winner, Nakatani-someone in 122 for a vacant belt if possible, fill out the rest in any way.

Dreams are free and sunshines and rainbows are common in imagination.

[Elheath]

Interviews are not the golden facts set in stone, but in an interview after the fight Inoue was asked about his potential opponent for December and answered "It could be Goodman or MJ, whichever comes first either way I'll be fighting them both so no worries (laugh)" so it makes me think Inoue is definitely not moving up for atleast two more fights, further making it likely for Goodman December and MJ next April in USA.

Another interesting thing he said was regarding Nakatani, that he's considered the best of 118 right now but Takuma ain't a total pushover either and they both are interested in an unification and that will be a good fight. Obviously big bro Naoya isn't going to totally say Takuma is easy for Nakatani, but I have a feeling he's quite up for fighting Nakatani after he defeats Takuma and will wait for him at 122 in that case.

Nakatani and Takuma both have fights scheduled within a day of eachother next month on the same Teiken promoted event.
October- Nakatani defense, Takuma defense
December- Inoue vs Goodman
Spring 2025- Nakatani vs Takuma unification? (pay step aside to Vargas, Takuma's mandatory due next year)
April 2025- Inoue vs MJ in Vegas
Fall/Winter 2025- Inoue vs Nakatani

I'd be up for that.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Inoue is doing just fine in japan. Why should he even fight in USA? I see no reason.