Comments Thread For: Five potential fights for Naoya Inoue in 2025

[BoxingUpdates]

The only question after Naoya Inoue's latest destruction job is... who's next?
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[Elheath]

With the amount of money and hair Ohashi lost in the past 2 month thanks to him, No. 5 Goodman is guaranteed not gonna get a chance until 2026 at the earliest if ever.

No. 4 Picasso is basically a matter of when, not if. My guess is early-mid May.

No. 3 Ball is quietly becoming the leading candidate for first 126 fight for Inoue. Possibly could happen this year if Turki wants it more than MJ.

No. 2 MJ is probably happening in the fall as long as Turki doesn't dream of surpassing him for a Nick Ball fight.

No. 1 Nakatani will happen someday in Japan as long as both guys continue winning. However that timing is most likely 2026 and not this year. Also, I was about to say who the heck is David Contreras, Nakatani is fighting Cuellar next month get your info straight...but then realised Cuellar's full name is David Cuellar Contreras, derp.

[Joseph]

I'm hoping Nakatani.

Ball would get stopped as he's just too careless, but it would be a fun show while it lasted.

[crimsonfalcon07]

We ignoring mandatory rotations for the purposes of this article? That's relevant information. Inoue may get stripped if he fights a second WBC mandatory in Picasso ahead of his due WBA mandatory, not to mention what a mess Goodman made of things. He should certainly be sent to the end of the line.

[Elheath]

We ignoring mandatory rotations for the purposes of this article? That's relevant information. Inoue may get stripped if he fights a second WBC mandatory in Picasso ahead of his due WBA mandatory, not to mention what a mess Goodman made of things. He should certainly be sent to the end of the line.

Unfortunately I think Picasso in Vegas this spring is all but a lock barring freak injury. Inoue will either vacate it or just let it get strip, Top Rank will have their Vegas card, then probably look to "re-undispute" with MJ in the fall with Saudi.

[ShoulderRoll]

If he won’t fight Akhmadaliev next then strip him of that belt.

Even Canelo was stripped for not fighting William Scull.

[leftuppercutko]

I like ball I think he put up a great fight if he could take Inua,spunch anyway is going to have a long night and he's going to be in some pain the next day

[Corelone]

Inoue is not looking to lose. He'll run out the clock. Then, after some nobody finally gets his grey scalp, he'll step up for paydays.

[mattr]

"Dairy free"?
Oh, he must be lactose intolerant?

[asherbonaventure]

I like ball I think he put up a great fight if he could take Inua,spunch anyway is going to have a long night and he's going to be in some pain the next day

I also find Ball to be a very good fighter. Block Blast