Promoter Eddie Hearn has invited Naoya Inoue to fight his first WBA contender, Murojon Ahmadaliyev (13-1, 10 KOs), following his third-round knockout victory over Ricardo Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs) on Saturday night at Salle . des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn tries to shame Inoue, 31, and his team into fighting Akhamadali, but it’s not effective. Inoue has been immune to public pressure throughout his career, ignoring their pleas to fight better opposition.
It’s been 12 years feasting on canned tomatoeswinning world titles in three divisions against flawed fighters. He won’t react to Hearn embarrassing him by fighting Ahmadali and possibly getting knocked out the same way Ricardo Espinoza was tonight.
Ahmadaliyev knocked Espinoza down three times in the third round before being stopped at 2:59. After the fight, Akhmadaliyev challenged the undisputed super bantamweight champion Inoue to face them after his next title defense against #1 IBF and #1 WBO Sam Goodman on January 24th.
Will Inoue leave?
Hearn said he thinks Team Inoue will “avoid” Ahmadaliyev. If he doesn’t fight him, expect Naoya to lose his WBA title. He may do so as he is expected to move up to 126 shortly after his Jan. 24 fights against Goodman (19-0, 9 KOs) and Junto Nakatani.
A champion against risk
Ahmadaliyev has almost no chance of getting into the fight with Noue because he is too talented and the Japanese star has become risk averse. Inoue never fought anyone good during his 12 year career. So you can say he never took any chances.
“I’m ready.” Let’s go, Naoya. Why is it bothering me? If he doesn’t want to fight me, he has to explain, because when I was champion, I followed the rules and he should follow the rules,” Murojon Akhmadaliev said during andinterview after knocking out Ricardo Espinoza on Saturday night, calling out undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.
“I had a must. I fought them without any argument. So I need an explanation because I’m here and I’m ready to fight. The best should fight the best. I am the mandatory and (VBA) interim champion. He (Inoue) needs to prove that he is the best in his division. He is a legend. And he needs to prove it,” Ahmadaliyev said of Naoya Inoue.
I don’t think Ahmadali and Hearn can do anything to get Naoya to fight him. Next January 24th, he will make his rescheduled title defense against the great Sam Goodman, and after that he will likely fight Junto Nakatania. He’s another beatable guy.
Naoya’s evasion tactics
“We gave him a fight. He was not invited once. The WBA called him twice,” promoter Eddie Hearn said of the bout that was twice ordered for his fighter Ahmadalivi. “The first time they paid an exception to remove MJ.”
“The second time it was iron in writing.” They had to fight him. They found a way to avoid him (Ahmadalivi) again. Naoya Inoue is a pound for pound legend. We respect him. He’s an incredible fighter. She has one thing he doesn’t. That is the power of Uzbekistan.
“I’m telling you. There’s only one fighter in the (super bantamweight) division that can compete with him, let alone beat him, and that’s MJ. I’m telling you now, and you write this down. This man (Akhmadaliev) is going to beat Naoya Inoue.
“He has all the skills, all the ability and the pedigree.” I fully believe he will beat him. We will do it in Japan. They were supposed to fight each other for the undisputed championship. “We (Ahmadali) lost a decision we didn’t believe we deserved to lose (against Marlon Tapales via a 12-round split decision on April 8, 2023),” Hearn said of Ahmadaliyev’s controversial loss to Tapales last year.
That was the raw deal he gave Ahmadaliyev, losing to Tapales by a 12-round decision last year in April 2023. It’s a shame there was never a rematch because it should have been.
“He (Naoia) was invited to fight him twice. He’s the only fighter in the division, and there are people out there who say, ‘Oh no, Naoya doesn’t hold back.’ Maybe Inoue doesn’t, but his team does, because everyone in boxing knows how good he (Akhmadaliev) is.
“Uzbekistan Power”
“Let the best fight the best.” It’s the only fight in the division. It’s one of the best fights in the sport. I’ll tell you what. I bet the house on that. This young man defeated Naoya Inoue. I’ll tell you something else. I bet she’ll never fight him. After this fight with (Sam) Goodman,
“He either has to leave or fight him.” I bet they avoid him. If they do, don’t start calling him pound for pound #1 because this man is going to beat him. Uzbek power, put your house on it,” Hearn said.
Naoja will leave his four titles at 122, but will do so without a fight with Akhmadali as he threatens to beat him. He is attentive and always has been.