Eddie Hearn is upset that WBA super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue has been diverted from mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev for easier fights against weak opposition that does not threaten to defeat him.
Hearn says the WBA will write to Inoue (29-9, 26 KOs) on Monday to tell him he must defend against Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) next or be stripped of his WBA 122-pound belt.
However, Hearn predicts that Inoue, 31, will vacate the WBA title and face the WBC #1 contender, Alan David Picassonext. These two are expected to fight in the US next in Las Vegas. Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) is not well known to the US boxing public, but he has fans in his native Mexico who will be excited to see him fight “The Monster” Inoue.
Anticipated vacancy
“Naoya Inoue makes a straight Murodjon Akhmadaliev duck. He was ordered to fight him twice. He did two fights (Ye Joon Kim and TJ Doheny) instead of fighting Akhmadaliev,” said Eddie Hearn. talkSport Boxing for Naoya Inoue.
“On Monday, the WBA will write to Naoya Inoue and say, ‘Enough is enough. You have to fight Akhmadaliev or you will be stripped of your WBA title and you will no longer be undisputed.’ Watch it now. Naoya Inoue will vacate the WBA world title,” Hearn said.
“Who is Akhmadalieff,” said Gareth A. Davis.
Hearn may also start preparing to strip Inoue of the WBA belt because he is unlikely to fight Akhmadaliev. He is very dangerous. It will be interesting to see if the WBA choose to strip Naoya because he is a popular fighter, making their organization look good to keep his belt. Replacing him with the lesser-known Akhmadaliev is less prestigious for the WBA.
Like Canelo Alvarez, Inoue stopped taking risky fights years ago and now plays it safe. Fighting lesser opposition can’t hurt him like Nonito Donaire did in their first fight. Inoue broke his nose and fractured his right orbital bone. Inoue takes the punishment well, but doesn’t land very well.
2025-01-27 01:28:00
