Following Marlon Tapales Win, Naoya Inoue in Talks for Undisputed Title Defense Against 2X World Champion

Naoya Inoue secured a KO victory against Marlon Tapales, making him only the second male boxer to achieve the status of a two-weight, undisputed champion. Inoue, who initially held the unified WBC and WBO super-bantamweight titles, faced Tapales, the IBF and WBA belt holder. At 30 years old, Inoue has now achieved a remarkable feat. However, this is just the beginning for the Japanese fighter.

Following the recent bout, Naoya Inoue suggested a desire to remain in the Super Bantamweight division and hinted at ongoing negotiations for a significant fight scheduled for 2024. Is Luis Nery a possible candidate?

Naoya Inoue confirms a fight in May

Within hours of emerging victorious, Inoue is already arranging his next bout. In his post-fight interview, he said “We plan to return to the ring in May,” letting fans know of his plans. Though Inoue did not reveal anything about who he might take up, rumors convey that Inoue’s upcoming bout might be against Mexico’s Luis Nery. Interestingly, Nery was banned from competing in Japan by the Japanese Commission. He faced scrutiny after testing positive for Zilpaterol following his TKO victory over long-reigning world champion Shinsuke Yamanaka in 2017.

Additionally, in the 2018 rematch, Nery significantly exceeded the weight limit but went on to win by TKO. As the WBC’s mandatory challenger, Nery boasts a noteworthy 35-1 record, having faced prominent opponents. His most recent match occurred in July, culminating in a second-round stoppage of Froilan Saludar. If not Nery, who else might be a possible contender?

Who are the other possible opponents for Inoue?

Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev, who observed Inoue’s victory from ringside at the Ariake Arena, might be next in line. With a 12-1 record, Akhmadaliev’s most recent win was against Kevin Gonzalez on December 16. His southpaw style presents an interesting matchup against Inoue, and Matchroom Boxing’s X account has hinted at a potential showdown. Akhmadaliev holds top-ten rankings in the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC, while also securing the fourth spot in Ring magazine’s rankings.

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Australia’s undefeated Sam Goodman, boasting a flawless 17-0 record, could be another contender for Inoue in 2024. Goodman, ranked 1st in the Super Bantamweight division by the WBO and IBF, recently defeated Zhong Liu. Excitement builds for potential matchups that could shape the boxing landscape.

Fans’ predictions came true as Inoue stood tall at the end of the fight. As Inoue decides to scale bigger mountains, it will be interesting to see what challenge will present itself before the boxer. Who would you want to see him fight next?

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