This is Rummy's Corner.
When boxing fans discuss the best pound for pound boxers in the world today, the two names
that are most frequently mentioned for the top spot are Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence
Crawford.
Oleksandr Usyk is also in the discussion, as are guys like Canelo Alvarez and Gennady
Golovkin.
Spence Jr is in the mix, and even a guy like Manny Pacquiao probably still deserves a spot
in this discussion, following his solid performance in his recent 12 round split decision victory
against Keith Thurman.
Then we have Inoue Naoya.
He too is certainly in the discussion, and having recently binge-watched all of his championship
fights one after another - I�m beginning to wonder if this monster doesn�t have the
best claim as the greatest boxer in the world at this time.
On April 6, 2014, in just his 6th professional bout, Inoue challenged WBC jr flyweight champion
Adrian Hernadez.
Inoue began the fight patiently, and before long, he was landing some nice right hands
coupled with some short explosive combinations.
Inoue had seized command of the action in the opening round, and he carried that momentum
throughout the early rounds.
It wasn�t until the 4th round that Hernandez finally began fighting effectively on offense.
The champion was battling bravely, and he was putting forth some spirited attacks, but
Inoue was taking the punishment well, and consistently firing back in menacing style.
Towards the end of round 6, Inoue nailed Hernandez with a sweet right hand that dropped the champion.
Hernandez made it to his feet, but he appeared badly confused and reluctant, which prompted
referee Michael Griffin to wave off it off.
The fight it was over!
It was a 6th round technical knockout, and at the time of the stoppage, Inoue was pitching
a 50 to 45 shutout on all three official scorecards.
Naoya Inoue had just become the NEW WBC jr flyweight champion of the world!
On September 5, 2014, Inoue made the first defense of his 108 pound WBC title against
Wittawas Basapean (Witta-wah-ss Bah-sa-pee-an).
This one was a tactical battle where Basapean was looking to land big, but Inoue was fighting
a very disciplined fight.
As the rounds progressed, Inoue started opening up with more and more well timed combinations.
It was a largely a tactical affair and Inoue was winning the battle of tactics, and his
marvelous blend of technique, ring smarts, and explosiveness.
Inoue dropped Basapean in round 4 with some quick crisp punching.
Basapean survived the rest of the round without further incident, but he was absorbing a beating.
In round 6, another blistering combination from Inoue was punctuated by a devastating
left to the body, and Basapean down again.
The challenger bravely battled on, but he was simply outgunned and outclassed.
By the later rounds, it had become target practice for Inoue, and the referee had finally
seen enough, officially waving it off for an 11th round technical knockout.
On December 30, 2014, Inoue jumped up two weight classes to 115 pounds when he challenged
WBO junior bantamweight champion Omar Andres Narvaez.
Inoue started opening up with some heavy shots right out of the gate, and Narvaez was done
less than 30 seconds into the contest.
Narvaez made it to his feet, but he looked badly dazed.
Inoue was measured and patient as he methodically followed up and soon had Narvaez down again!
The champion again beat the count, and amazingly, he survived the rest of the round.
About halfway through the 2nd, Inoue dropped the champion again with a sweet counter left.
As the 2nd was drawing towards a close, Inoue unleashed an absolutely savage combination
that was punctuated by two devastating body shots that had Narvaez down for the 4th and
final time as referee Lou Moret counted him out.
Naoya Inoue had just become the new WBO junior bantamweight champion of the world.
On December 29, 2015, Inoue made the first defense of his WBO 115 pound title when he
squared off against challenger Warlito Parrenas.
Right at the start, Inoue didn�t waste any time putting together some nice thudding combos.
Per his trademark, Inoue was doing an outstanding job mixing up his attacks while using a wide
assortment of punches both upstairs and down.
Inoue was jabbing well to begin round 2, and before long, he unloaded two quick vicious
assaults that dropped the challenger.
Parrenas was slow to his feet, but he beat the count as an anxious Inoue was ready to
pounce!
And pounce he did, as another furious assault soon had Parrenas down again.
Referee Mike Ortega didn�t like what he was seeing, and he waved it off mid-count.
It was a 2nd round technical knockout and the first defense of his junior bantamweight
belt.
On May 8, 2016 Inoue made the second defense of his WBO junior bantam title when he went
up against challenger David Carmona.
Inoue got off to his typical patiently explosive start, and Carmona was quickly on the defensive.
This was a battle of tactics, with a lot of maneuvering for position.
From the onset Carmona was fighting a smart fight, despite Inoue doing the better work.
There was a lot of jabbing and posturing, and early in the contest Inoue realized he
was in there with a sound technician.
Inoue was frequently throwing just 1 punch at time, while never overextending or losing
focus.
Both boxers were landing, and both were having moments - but Inoue was consistently landing
harder and sharper.
But Carmona was determined, and he was using excellent footwork and often winning the battle
of range, while frequently making Inoue miss just short.
But even in the rounds were Carmona was doing his best work, he was still being outgunned
by the firepower of Inoue.
During the later half of the scheduled 12 rounder, Inoue was more focused on jabbing
and he was jabbing with more authority.
This approach greatly diminished Carmona�s output.
Whenever Inoue was consistently working behind the jab, he was usually controlling the action,
and when he wasn't working behind the jab, Carmona was finding ways to do some sneaky
work.
Inoue started opening up more later in the fight, and In the 12th and final round, Inoue
began administering a savage beating!!!
Amazingly Carmona absorbing some blistering punishment before he eventually succumbs to
the assault.
Carmona survived the count and he BRAVELY made it to the final bell.
Inoue was awarded a unanimous decision victory, with 2 judges scoring the bout 118-109, and
the other having it 116-111.
On September 4, 2016, Inoue made the third defense of his WBO junior bantamweight crown
against Karoon Jarupianlerd.
RIght out of the gate, Inoue was more active, more effective, and he was doing a fine job
of making Jarupianlerd swing and miss.
Inoue was outboxing the challenger, and he was dictating the terms of the range, distance,
and tempo.
This trend continued, and while Jarupianlerd sometimes had some decent isolated moments,
by and large Inoue was in cruise control and he was having little difficulty keeping the
action to his liking, as he patiently showcased his ample skillset.
Karun was having some of his better moments mid-fight, but he wasn�t doing enough to
win rounds, and in the rare instances he was finding success, Inoue almost always came
back with something heavier and more damaging.
Inoue continued controlling the action by jabbing and moving and sometimes unloading.
As round 10 was drawing near an end, Inoue unleashed a prolonged relentless barrage of
menacing punches that ultimately overwhelmed Jurapianlerd.
Referee Mark Nelson counted him out, and it was a 10th round KO for Inoue.
On December 20, 2016, Inoue made the fourth defense of his WBO junior bantamweight title
against challenger Kohei Kono.
Inoue began the fight jabbing with authority and controlling the action.
Kono had a few nice moments in the early going, but Inoue was having more moments, and better
moments.
By round 3, Kono was trying hard and battling bravely, but Inoue was dominating the action
with some clubbing combinations.
To his credit, Kono continued doing everything he could, but he was being outmaneuvered and
outpunched by a superior technician.
Inoue was jabbing well in the 5th, and he began landing all types of sneaky shots.
Kono was on the attack early in the 6th, and Inoue smashed him with a wicked counter left.
Kono managed to beat the count, but shortly after, Inoue had Kono down again and referee
Robert Byrd had seen enough.
It was a 6th round technical knockout for Inoue.
On May 21, 2017, Inoue made the fifth defense of his WBO junior bantamweight crown against
Ricardo Rodriguez.
Things began tactically, with Inoe looking to control the distance with a nice jab, excellent
footwork, and short explosive combinations.
Rodriguez was trying to work his way inside to attack, but he wasn�t especially effective.
Inoue was comfortably in control of the action as he began dissecting Rodriguez with surgical
like precision.
Early in round 3, Inoue dropped Rodriguez with a furious 3 punch combination.
Ricardo was quick to his feet, but Inoue soon had him down again compliments of a monster
left hook.
This time Rodriguez would not be beating the count.
It was a 3rd round knockout for Inoue.
On September 9, 2017, Inoue made the sixth defense of his WBO junior bantamweight title
on his American television debut against Antonio Nieves.Inoue started the fight strong, and
he was controlling the action with a stellar jab and some beautiful short combinations.
This set the tone of the fight, and the early rounds quickly transformed into a vintage
effort from Inoue.
As things progressed into the middle rounds, Inoue continued repeatedly nailing Nieves
with a snappy jab, and he was also beginning to mix in some nice 2 and 3 punch combos for
good measure.
In round 5 Inoue drops Nieves with a crippling left to the body.
Nieves beat the count, and Inoue started mercilessly digging left hooks to the body with frightening
regularity, as Nieves held on to survive the brutal round.
Nieves was absorbing a lot of punishment in round 6, which ultimately caused him to revert
into full retreat mode.
Inoue tried persuading him to step up, but Nieves wasn�t taking the bait.
Nieves survived until the end of round 6, and his corner promptly stopped the fight.
It was a 6th round TKO for Inoue.
On December 30, 2017 Inoue made the seventh defense of his WBO junior bantamweight crown
against challenger Yoan Boyeaux.
In the opening round, Inoue was already managing to rattle the challenger with several short
heavy combinations.
As the 1st round was nearing an end, Inoue clipped Boyeaux with a devastating left hand.
Boyeax beat the count, and the round was over.
Inoue continued bringing the heat in round 2, and he had Boyeax looking off balance and
mighty uncomfortable.Early in the 3rd, Inoue landed a crippling left to the body that resulted
in a delayed reaction knockdown.
Boyeaux bounced up quickly, but appeared badly hurt.
Inoue jumped on his wounded foe and soon had him down again after a furious assault.
Boyeaux again bravely made it to his feet and battled on, but Inoue easily dropped him
again and the fight was over.
It was a devastating 3rd round technical knockout for Inoue.
On May 25, 2018, Inoue moved up to 118 pounds when he challenged reigning WBA champion Jamie
McDonnell.
The champion was looking to jab and move and keep at range, as Inoue patiently stalked
forward.
Inoue quickly caught up with him and was landing some thunder to body and head.
Less than halfway through the round, Inoue wobbled the champion with a left hook high
on the head.
Another 2 punch combination floored the champion.
McDonnell made it to his feet, and cool as an assassin, Inoue began carving through him,
and the referee waved it off just as McDonnell timbered his way to the canvas.
The fight was over.
Naoya Inoue had just become the new WBA bantamweight champion of the world.
It was a devastating display of power and accuracy from Inoue, who was now a 3 division
world champion.
On October 7, 2018, Inoue made the first defense of his WBA bantamweight crown when he faced
challenger Juan Carlos Payano.
Less than a minute into the opening round, as both boxers were still in the feeling out
process, Inoue fired off a quick one-two that dropped the challenger.
McDonnell would not be beating the count.
And in his most recent bout on May 18, 2019, Inoue made the second defense of his WBA bantamweight
crown when he went up against Emmanuel Rodriguez.
It was yet another vintage powerhouse performance from Inoue.
Early in round 2, Inoue landed a right to the body followed by a sledgehammer hook upstairs,
and Rodriguez was down.
He made it to his feet, but was quickly down again after a monster right to the body.
Rodriguez was bloodied and appeared badly hurt.
He bravely continued, but by this point he was already beaten, and Inoue effortlessly
put the final touches on another masterpiece performance.
Simply put, Naoya Inoue is one of the most complete boxers in the game today.
Inoue truly has it all - exceptional Footwork, superb positioning, an incredible understanding
of range and distance, defensively very responsible, superb punching technique with every punch
in the book, fluid powerful combinations, absolutely menacing work to the body, incredible
timing with an extraordinary ability to land sharp counters, extremely high ring IQ - and
on top of all of that, he has this devastating power in both hands.
And even scarier, at 26 years old, Inoue still seems to be consistently improving his craft.
I�m not sure if Inoue is the one most deserving of the mythical title known as The Pound for
Pound King - but if he isn�t the best, he�s on a very short list.
Naoya Inoue is indeed a Monster!
Thanks for watching everyone.
Hope you enjoyed, and have a wonderful night.
This is Rummy�s Corner.