Why Naoya Inoue should think twice about rising too high

Naoya Inoue’s rise by means of boxing has been nothing in need of meteoric and veteran broadcaster and former titleholder Raul Marquez believes Inoue nonetheless has lots left to present to the game.

The 2-time undisputed champion, now reigning as such at junior featherweight, Inoue has made world-class fighters seem like novices along with his explosive energy and precision. As considered one of boxing’s high pound-for-pound fighters and certainly the best Japanese boxer in historical past, Inoue has left followers eagerly awaiting his return in December, although no opponent has been formally named.

Marquez not too long ago shared his ideas on Inoue’s profession and the potential challenges forward for the fighter often called “The Monster.” When requested about how far Inoue, 28-0 (25 KOs), may go by way of weight divisions, Marquez was each admiring and cautious. He believes featherweight may very well be Inoue’s restrict.

“They’re speaking about him going as much as 140[lbs] and even 147, however I feel that’s a bit an excessive amount of,” Marquez instructed BoxingScene. “Certain, Manny Pacquiao did it – he began at 106 and went all the best way to 147, preventing guys like Margarito at 154.”

However Pacquiao was a special animal.

Inoue has fought twice this yr, profitable each bouts by knockout – although neither efficiency was as spectacular as these from earlier years. He was dropped within the first spherical by Luis Nery earlier than stopping Nery within the sixth, and he allowed the visibly greater TJ Doheny to search out some early success earlier than patiently bludgeoning him to defeat in seven.

There may be some hypothesis about whether or not Inoue, at 31, remains to be in his prime – particularly on condition that lower-weight fighters are inclined to age quicker. Marquez, nevertheless, isn’t involved.

“I feel he’s nonetheless there, man,” he mentioned. “He’s nonetheless obtained lots of fights left in him. I’m excited to see what he does subsequent.”

One matchup that has followers buzzing is a possible conflict between Inoue and bantamweight titleholder Junto Nakatani, who has been making waves of his personal. For Marquez, the prospect of the all-Japanese showdown is thrilling.

“That’s a struggle I might like to see,” Marquez mentioned. “At this stage of his profession, you wish to see Inoue in massive fights. Why take a threat preventing somebody and not using a title? I might like to see that struggle.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and writer of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (out there on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.