For his accomplishments and legacy, Naoya Inoue remains probably the busiest champion in the world. This year itself, he will step into the ring for the third time. It’s a tough prospect even for some of the reigning champions. On December 24, at his favorite Ariake Arena in Tokyo, ‘The Monster’ will defend his title against unbeaten challenger Sam Goodman.

Fans must be looking forward to yet another thriller. Details are emerging that Inoue might have a reason to celebrate in the lead-up to the Goodman fight. Reportedly, he has struck a sponsorship deal worth $19 million with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh‘s Riyadh Season. However, in several circles, the news seems to be met with some skepticism.

Though widely acknowledged as a pound-for-pound great of the contemporary era, Naoya Inoue’s fame has largely restricted itself to Japan and the scores of diehards across the globe. He still remains on the radar at several places. Ideally, more of his fights should be staged in Japan. but some worry that it may not happen so.

Wallet leads, heartburn follows

“‼️NAOYA INOUE SIGNS A 19.7 MILLION DOLLAR SPONSORSHIP CONTRACT WITH RIYADH SEASON‼️ 👀👀,” read the tweet from ‘dantheboxingman‘. The post featured a report from Yahoo Japan. According to the news, the world champion traveled to Riyadh with his team and met HE Alalshikh. Later, he signed the agreement said to be worth 3 billion yen which translates to $19.7 million.

One might wonder, for an innocuous piece of news, what might have been the reason behind the alarm bells? It may be great news for Inoue’s brand and boxing in general. However, in some corners, doubts seemingly crept in, especially about how it would play out with his schedule for the upcoming months and years.

Talking about the deal, Inoue said, “I think it’s all about timing. This year’s fight has been decided. I don’t know what will happen next year. If I can fight in Saudi Arabia, I’ll just live up to those expectations. I think I’ll just perform the way I do in Japan.”

Perhaps that might have added to the confusion. For a champion who has fought for over a decade, Naoya Inoue has stepped out of Japan on just four occasions. Many would love watching him at the Wembley, Madison Square Garden, or the T-Mobile Arena. Hence, if he has signed a deal with Riyadh Season, does that mean he will start fighting outside Japan? From the reactions, many didn’t appear convinced, it seems.

Naoya Inoue: Journey to the Lands of Sunset

Let’s check what a few fans had to say.

This fan expressed doubt about how the champion fulfills the commitment to fighting in Saudi Arabia. They cited the latest instance wherein Inoue will face Sam Goodman in Tokyo. Then there’s the potential 2025 matchup in Las Vegas. There are rumors of a line-up with fellow countryman Junto Nakatani that should if the fight turns up, take place again in Japan. So the fan wondered, “His next fight is in Tokyo already, then Vegas, then probably Junto, which has to be in Japan, so I don’t see how he’s going to fight in Saudi Arabia until like 2026.”

Strictly from a ‘boxing speak’, the $19 million deal seemingly left the next one a bit puzzled: “Sponsorship deal at 19 million, what does this really mean in boxing terms?” This fan too seemed doubtful whether Naoya Inoue would step out of Japan for a fight. If he doesn’t have any plans, at least in the near future, then how will that bore out on the Riyadh Season partnership? To drive their point, they even pulled out the infamous Don King-Mike Tyson case. This is what they said: “Inoue boutta rob this man don king style.”

However, the following user had a suggestion for a much-talked-about, albeit doubtful, matchup: “Bro gotta move up to featherweight and fight Bam.” Though sharing similar thoughts, the next one had a poser for the Riyadh Season team. They wanted to know if a fight between Inoue and ‘Bam’ Rodriguez might be in the works. Or a fight with Junto Nakatani could take place in Saudi Arabia instead of Japan. They said, “Inoue vs. bam? Or will he make Nakatani vs. Inoue in Saudi instead of Japan?”

However, there were few clarifications available on the matter.

One of the sports enthusiasts took pains to explain that “it’s more of a sponsorship deal than a promotional agreement.” So Naoya Inoue may serve as a promotional figure for Riyadh Season. However, a fight in Riyadh, it was suggested, may be guaranteed under the agreement. It’s simply a possibility that could be later explored as a separate arrangement.

What do you make of the deal between Naoya Inoue and Riyadh Season? What does it mean for his career?