The former bantamweight champion, Paul Butler, says that Naoya Inoue prefers to stay at 122 rather than move up to featherweight because of the “greater risk” he would face in fighting in that category than staying where he is without anyone forcing him to fight.
Nery Fight Presents Risk
Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) had to drop to the canvas to defeat Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) by knockout in the sixth round to successfully defend his undisputed super bantamweight title on Monday night at the Tokyo Dome. in Japan.
The fight showed Inoue’s weakness with his chin, which could be an easy target for him if he moves up to 126 to face more talented fighters in that weight class. That is the real difference.
Super bantamweight has limited fighters with limited ability, but four lbs up, that’s where the real division is. It seems clear that Inoue doesn’t want to risk fighting those top fighters at featherweight; Therefore, he prefers to stay at super bantamweight, where it is safer.
Butler would have liked to see ‘Monster’ Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) move up to featherweight after taking on the undefeated super bantamweight champion in his previous fight, but Naoya knows “deep down” it will be different up there. .
I think it’s obvious that it will be VERY different at featherweight for Inoue, as he will have to face fights that could end up defeating him, but take him out and dim his star power. Apparently, staying safe at super bantamweight is one of Naoya’s ways to avoid that negative outcome.
Butler: Inoue Knows “Deep Down”
“In the end, size will defeat him, same with Loma. He carries such a reputation that ultimately size will be a big factor in this fight,” said Paul Butler speaking to Secondsout talking about why Naoya Inoue will not increase four kilos in featherweight to compete in this division.
Size will eventually catch up to Inoue if he moves up to 130 and 135, but NOT 126. Inoue is as big as featherweight champions Luis Alberto Lopez and Raymond Ford.
Inoue will obviously be much smaller than champions Rey Vargas and Rafael Espinoza in terms of height. However, Inoue has defeated taller fighters before, such as 5’10” Jamie McDonnell. Therefore, height should not be an excuse for Inoue not to move up to 126.
Staying Safe vs. Test Limits
“He knows that he’s the depth of size that he can contribute because that’s why he stays at super bantamweight,” said Butler about Inoue. “He has all the belts there. What’s the point of taking a big risk and moving up to featherweight?”
The point is that if Inoue moves up to featherweight, his fame will increase if hie defeats talented fighters at that weight rather than staying at super bantam weight and nobody being forced to fight. That’s the difference.
Tonight, Inoue introduced his IBF 122 lb Sam Goodman to the ring after his victory over Nery to tell the fans who he intends to fight in September. Unheralded Goodman, an underrated Australian fighter, is virtually unknown. Inoue won’t be tested by this guy, and it’s another safe fight for the Japanese star.
It shows that Inoue doesn’t trust himself because if he thought he really had the ability, he would have gone up to 126 and met the sharks in this division.
Where are the Challenges?
“He has no real challenges,” Butler said of Inoue not having anyone interested in fighting at super bantamweight if he decides to stay there. “I want to see him pushed to the limits he can go to. It would be great to see him move up to featherweight.
“I thought you would wake up after a moment of doubt [at 122]but he obviously knows he’s not big enough and probably not ready to fight at featherweight,” Butler said of Inoue.
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