THE FACE OF BOXING THE FACE OF BOXING Naoya Inoue: The Quest for Greatness Photographs by Wojtek Urbanek • Text by Thomas Hauser NAOYE INOUE: THE QUEST FOR GREATNESS NAOYE INOUE: THE QUEST FOR GREATNESS Photographs by WOJTEK URBANEK | Text by THOMAS HAUSER Photographs by WOJTEK URBANEK | Text by THOMAS HAUSER Photographs by WOJTEK URBANEK | Text by THOMAS HAUSER THE FACE OF BOXING THE FACE OF BOXING
N aoya Inoue has been grouped with the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list for years. He currently holds The Ring’s championship and all four major sanctioning body belts at 122 pounds, has won 22 of 22 world title contests, and earlier in his career annexed titles at 108, 115 and 118 pounds. His overall record stands at 29 wins against zero losses with 26 knockouts. It’s difficult to evaluate fighters in boxing’s lightest weight divisions, His overall record stands at 29 wins against zero losses with 26 knockouts. His overall record stands at 29 wins against zero losses with 26 knockouts. Naoye Inoue has been grouped with the likes of Canero Alvarez, Terence Crawford, and Oleksandr Usyk at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list for years. He currently holds all four major sanctioning-body belts at 122 pounds; has won 22 of 22 world championship contests; and earlier in his career, annexed titles at 108, 115, and 118 pounds. at 122 pounds; has won 22 of 22 world championship contests; and earlier in his career, annexed titles at 108, 115, and 118 pounds. Naoye Inoue has been grouped with the likes of Canero Alvarez, Terence Crawford, and Oleksandr Usyk at the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound list for years. He currently holds all four major sanctioning-body belts
because there are few inquisitors to test them. But Inoue’s combination of speed, power and skill is indicative of greatness. His most impressive performance to date is an eighth- round stoppage of previously unbeaten Stephen Fulton in 2023. At the end of that year, The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America honored him as the Fighter of the Year. Looking ahead, Inoue could go up in weight to 126 pounds, but there are no megafights waiting in that division. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez would be an attractive opponent, but Rodriguez fights at 115 pounds and might find
is his country’s most famous and popular athlete not named Shohei Ohtani. His deferential, almost shy, manner appeals to people Ohtani. His deferential, almost shy, manner appeals to people massive event in Japan, where he is among his country’s most famous and popular athletes. His deferential, almost shy manner appeals to people from all walks of life. A partnership from all walks of life. A partnership with Riyadh Season is expected to expand his profile outside of his native land. And it’s a no-brainer that the International Boxing Hall of Fame ring that Naoye is gazing at on the opposite page will someday be on his finger. from all walks of life. A partnership with Riyadh Season is expected to expand his profile outside of his native land. And it’s a no-brainer that the International Boxing Hall of Fame ring that Naoye is gazing at on the opposite page will someday be on his finger. Ohtani. His deferential, almost shy, manner appeals to people from all walks of life. A partnership with Riyadh Season is expected to expand his profile outside of his native land. And it’s a no-brainer that the International Boxing Hall of Fame ring that Naoye is gazing at on the opposite page will someday be on his finger. with Riyadh Season is expected to expand his profile outside of his native land. And it’s a no-brainer that an International Boxing Hall of Fame ring like the one Naoya is gazing at on the opposite page will someday be on his finger. is his country’s most famous and popular athlete not named Shohei is his country’s most famous and popular athlete not named Shohei 122 pounds a bridge too far. That leaves WBC 118-pound titleholder Junto Nakatani as the most likely elite opponent for Naoya. Meanwhile, every Inoue fight is a
aoye Inoue has been grouped with e likes of Canero Alvarez, Terence rawford, and Oleksandr Usyk at e top of boxing’s pound-for-pound t for years. He currently holds all ur major sanctioning-body belts 122 pounds; has won 22 of 22 orld championship contests; nd earlier in his career, annexed es at 108, 115, and 118 pounds. s overall record stands at 29 ns against zero losses with 26 nockouts.
It’s difficult to evaluate fighters in boxing’s lightest weight divisions because there are few inquisitors to test them. But Inoue’s combination of speed, power, and skill are indicative of greatness. His most impressive performance to date was an eighth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Stephen Fulton in 2023. At the end of that year, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored him as the “Fighter of the Year.”
Looking ahead, Inoue could go up in weight to 125 pounds but there are no megafights waiting in that division. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez would be an attractive opponent. But Rodriguez fights at 115 pounds and might find 122 pounds a bridge too far. That leaves WBC 118-pound champion Junto Nakatani as the most likely elite opponent for Naoye. Meanwhile, every Inoue fight is a massive event in Japan where he Looking ahead, Inoue could go up in weight to 125 pounds but there are no megafights waiting in that division. Jesse “Bam” Looking ahead, Inoue could go up in weight to 125 pounds but there are no megafights waiting in that division. Jesse “Bam”
It’s difficult to evaluate fighters in boxing’s lightest weight divisions because there are few inquisitors to test them. But Inoue’s combination of speed, power, and skill are indicative of greatness. His most impressive performance to date was an eighth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Stephen Fulton in 2023. At the end of that year, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored him as the “Fighter of the Year.” indicative of greatness. His most impressive performance to date was an eighth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Stephen Fulton in 2023. At the end of that year, the Boxing Writers Association of America honored him as the “Fighter of the Year.” It’s difficult to evaluate fighters in boxing’s lightest weight divisions because there are few inquisitors to test them. But Inoue’s combination of speed, power, and skill are
Rodriguez would be an attractive opponent. But Rodriguez fights at 115 pounds and might find 122 pounds a bridge too far. That leaves WBC 118-pound champion Junto Nakatani as the most likely elite opponent for Naoye. Meanwhile, every Inoue fight is a massive event in Japan where he Rodriguez would be an attractive opponent. But Rodriguez fights at 115 pounds and might find 122 pounds a bridge too far. That leaves WBC 118-pound champion Junto Nakatani as the most likely elite opponent for Naoye. Meanwhile, every Inoue fight is a massive event in Japan where he
ojtek Urbanek can be reached at studio@wojtekurbanek.com | Thomas Hauser’s email address is thomashauserwriter@gmail.com Wojtek Urbanek can be reached at studio@wojtekurbanek.com | Thomas Hauser’s email address is thomashauserwriter@gmail.com Wojtek Urbanek can be reached at studio@wojtekurbanek.com | Thomas Hauser’s email address is thomashauserwriter@gmail.com
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