Boxer of the Week: Naoya Inoue

Boxer of the Week: Naoya Inoue

By Michael Richards 

In a weekend when we were spoilt for boxing action from around the globe, one man in particular shone, as he invariably tends to do. Naoya Inoue not only entered the 2nd instalment of the World Boxing Super Series as very much the man to beat, he was feared and he showed exactly why on Sunday morning in Yokahama.

Inoue’s pre-fight record of 16-0, which included 14 KO’s, you would have said that the stoppage was inevitable and came as no surprise. Stepping up from super-flyweight in his previous fight and stopping the well-respected champion Jamie McDonnell inside a round should have been a warning to us all. However, it wasn’t the fact that he stopped his Dominican opponent in just 70 seconds, it was the clinical accuracy of the punch that did it and the fact Payano had previously beaten Rau’shee Warren and never been stopped. He was and is no mug. He’s durable and thoughts pre-fight suggested he could take Inoue rounds.

The Pound-4-Pound superstar had other plans. Setting Payano up with a swift jab, Inoue unleashed a lightening straight right hand, which landed right on the button, causing his opponent to immediately drop to the canvas. The count from the referee wasn’t necessary, with it clear he was never going to get back to his feet.

Inoue proved to the watching world and the thousands in attendance that his nickname “The Monster” is not only accurate, it’s somewhat of an understatement for someone of his small stature. Sunday’s performance was the confirmation, if we needed it, that his name is on The Ali Trophy and anyone that gets in his way will potentially face the same demise as Payano.