Naoya Inoue produced yet another knockout for his highlight reel in his latest fight against Ye Joon Kim. Though an impressive victory, Eddie Hearn has blasted the Japanese sensation for ducking one of his fighters.
Naoya Inoue now sits at 29-0, with 24 of those fights being world title fights. ‘The Monster’ Inoue boasts 26 knockouts of his 29 wins, with Ye Joon Kim becoming just another when the pair met on the 24th of January.
Ye Joon Kim was notably a late replacement for Sam Goodman, who withdrew from the fight with injury. Inoue has been on an impressive run of form, stopping the likes of TJ Doheny, Luis Nery, Marlon Tapales and Stephen Fulton in his four fights before facing Joon Kim.
Eddie Hearn Blasts Naoya Inoue
One fighter Naoya Inoue has yet to face is Matchroom’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev. With Inoue rumoured to be facing 31-0-1 Alan Picasso next, Eddie Hearn had some choice words about Inoue’s failure to accept Akhmadaliev’s challenge.
He said, ‘Inoue Is ducking MJ Akhmadaliev. He’s been ordered to fight him twice. He’s had two gimmie fights instead of fighting MJ. He’s talking about fighting Picasso In Vegas, who gives a f*ck?…He will vacate the WBA title.’
If Inoue does not face Akhmadaliev, it is possible he will be stripped of his WBA title.
Akhmadaliev has one loss on his record, to Marlon Tapales, who Inoue has already beaten. Inoue has once spoken on this, stating in a caption on social media, ‘Why do I have to run away from someone who lost to Tapales? 🤷♂️ There’s zero need for it’.
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