Former featherweight champion Barry McGuigan recently shared his admiration for Japanese boxing sensation Naoya Inoue. McGuigan highlights Inoue’s incredible journey from light-flyweight world champion to super-bantamweight king, describing it as unlike anything he has witnessed in his lifetime. McGuigan praises Inoue as possibly being “the hardest pound-for-pound puncher in the world” and acknowledges his ability to carry his power forward as he moves up in weight classes.
Potential Future
McGuigan speculates on the possibility of Inoue conquering even higher weight classes, suggesting that Inoue could potentially reach super-featherweight due to his dimensions and power. He believes that Inoue’s physique may not suggest explosive power at first glance, but he has proved his ability to compete at higher weights. McGuigan expresses excitement at the prospect of Inoue challenging himself further and potentially becoming a six-weight world champion.
Global Recognition
While Inoue has gained widespread recognition in Japan, McGuigan advocates for the boxer to showcase his talent on a global stage. He emphasizes the importance of Inoue fighting outside Japan to reach a wider audience and solidify his status as a “global figure.” McGuigan suggests that Inoue’s next bout should take place outside of Japan to allow fans from around the world to appreciate his skills and star quality.
In discussing Inoue’s future fights, McGuigan mentions the possibility of a thrilling matchup between Inoue and Junto Nakatani, which could become the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. While the fight is likely to take place in Japan, McGuigan believes that Inoue’s status as a global figure necessitates fights in other countries as well. McGuigan points out that Inoue has previously boxed in the UK and speculates about the excitement it would bring to UK fight fans if Inoue were to fight there again.
With an impressive record of 28-0(25), Inoue has captured the attention of the entire boxing world. McGuigan acknowledges Inoue’s potential to become a dominant force in multiple weight classes and anticipates his future fights with excitement. As Inoue continues to make waves in the boxing world, McGuigan envisions him expanding his global presence and solidifying his legacy as one of the sport’s greatest talents.