THE MONSTER
NAOYA INOUE
Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue knocked out Filipino opponent Marlon Tapales in the 10th round on Dec. 26, becoming the undisputed super bantamweight champion of the world and just the second man to unify all four major belts in two different weight classes.
Nicknamed "Monster" added Tapales' WBA and IBF crowns to the WBC and WBO titles he already held.
Putting on another dominant performance at Tokyo's Ariake Arena, the 30-year-old Japanese star landed a savage right that left Tapales unable to recover to his feet just over a minute into the 10th.
It took the undefeated Inoue, who completed a sweep of the four bantamweight belts in December 2022, just a year and two matches to unify all four belts in two weight classes.
American Terence Crawford in July became the first boxer to unify the four championships in two weight classes when he conquered the welterweight division, but it took him six years to accomplish the feat after claiming an undisputed super lightweight title in 2017.
Date of birth: April 10, 1993
Place of birth: Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture
Height: 165 centimeters
Boxer type: Right hand
Career review:
Wins seven titles during his amateur days with Sagamihara Seiryo Senior High School
December 2010 - Makes professional debut
April 2014 - Wins WBC light flyweight title
December 2014 - Becomes WBO super flyweight champion, goes on to successfully defend the title seven times
May 2018 - Wins WBA bantamweight title, becomes champion in three weight classes
November 2019 - Wins World Boxing Super Series bantamweight title
June 2022 - Becomes first Japanese to unify three major titles and first Japanese to top pound-for-pound ranking published by prestigious boxing magazine "The Ring"
December 2022 - Becomes first Japanese to unify four major titles
January 2023 - Announces decision to vacate all four bantamweight belts and move up to the super bantamweight division
| April. 2014 | Adrian Hernandez | Mexico | 6th round TKO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 2014 | Samartlek Kokietgym | Thailand | 11th round TKO |
| Dec. 2014 | Omar Narvaez | Argentina | 2nd round KO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2015 | Warlito Parrenas | Philippines | 2nd round TKO |
| May. 2016 | David Carmona | Mexico | Decision |
| Sept. 2016 | Petchbarngborn Kokietgym | Thailand | 10th round KO |
| Dec. 2016 | Kohei Kono | Japan | 6th round TKO |
| May. 2017 | Ricardo Rodriguez | U.S. | 3rd round KO |
| Sept. 2017 | Antonio Nieves | U.S. | 6th round TKO |
| Dec. 2017 | Yoan Boyeaux | France | 3rd round TKO |
| May. 2018 | Jamie McDonnell | England | 1st round TKO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 2018 | Juan Carlos Payano | Dominican Rep. | 1st round KO |
| May. 2019 | Emmanuel Rodriguez | Puerto Rico | 2nd round TKO |
| Nov. 2019 | Nonito Donaire | Philippines | Decision |
| Oct. 2020 | Jason Moloney | Australia | 7th round KO |
| June. 2021 | Michael Dasmarinas | Philippines | 3rd round KO |
| Dec. 2021 | Aran Dipaen | Thailand | 8th round TKO |
| June. 2022 | Nonito Donaire | Philippines | 2nd round TKO |
| Dec. 2022 | Paul Butler | England | 11th round KO |
| July. 2023 | Stephen Fulton | U.S. | 8th round TKO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 2023 | Marlon Tapales | Philippines | 10th round KO |
As a first-grader in elementary school, Inoue tells his father he wants to start boxing. Undeterred by his father's warning of how hard the sport is, he says:
Inoue's life as a boxer began in a room at his home. He picked up a pair of gloves in the first grade at the training gym of his father Shingo, a former amateur fighter. Naoya and his younger brother Takuma were taken through the basics under the strict guidance of Shingo, who later opened a gym.
Naoya won seven amateur titles when he was a student at Sagamihara Seiryo High School in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Higashi Yaegashi, Naoya's senior at the gym and a world champion in three different weight classes, recalls the time they exchanged fists: "By the time he reached high school he had become a monster," he said.
Inoue's grip strength and other physical attributes were once rated in a physical test as average for an adult male.
"My physical ability was low," Inoue laughs. His strength was his ability to find space. "I've never had trouble getting within punching distance. I think being able to hit with ease leads to the strength and speed of my strikes," he says proudly.
Even now, Naoya leaves his training up to his father. He says, "Our family built boxing from the ground up. I am not an elite fighter, but rather a graduate. It's meaningless if we don't work together as a family."
His father said Naoya had told him when he turned pro that he didn't want to fight "unless you're guiding me." "It moved me," Shingo said, indicating the strong bond between them.
Provided by Ohashi Gym
July 2012
At the age of 19, Inoue passed an open professional test and without difficulty, dominating the reigning Japanese champion at the time and suitably impressing Ohashi Gym chief Hideyuki Ohashi.
May 2016
Inoue repeatedly knocks his opponent down and also breaks his elbow during an open practice session
WBC
Light Flyweight
Title Match
April 6, 2014
WBC light flyweight title match. Inoue captures the belt in his sixth professional fight.
WBO
Super Flyweight
Title Match
Narvaez, who had never been knocked down before, loses by technical knockout in the second round.
WBA
Bantamweight
Title Match
Inoue ahead of the fight:
World Boxing Super Series
WBA
Bantamweight
Title Match
Inoue knocks out Payano 1 minute, 10 seconds into the first round.
Inoue:
Dec. 2018
25-year-old Naoya Inoue became the first Japanese fighter to appear on the cover of the prestigious American boxing magazine "The Ring". "I think my style and results have been recognized. I'm happy because I've always wanted to be one step ahead of the other Japanese champions," said Inoue.
The cover of the Feb. 2019 issue shows Inoue posing against the backdrop of the "Hinomaru," Japanese national flag. The nickname "Monster" also graces the cover along with the intro for an interview-based feature. The Ring, first published in 1922, has featured world-famous stars on its cover, including former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Douglass Fischer, the magazine's editor-in-chief, says Inoue is a great champion who should be recognized around the world. Hideyuki Ohashi, president of his gym, said, "This is the first time a Japanese person has been recognized. It's a great accomplishment."
(Photo courtesy of American boxing magazine "The Ring")
World Boxing Super Series
WBA IBF
Bantamweight
Title Match
Inoue beats Rodriguez by technical knockout in the second round but says,
World Boxing Super Series
WBA IBF
Bantamweight
Title Match
August 26, 2019
Donaire tells a press conference ahead of the World Boxing Super Series final that
Inoue after the bout:
On the chance of becoming the first Japanese boxer to unify three major titles
Davis speaks to online media outlet Fight Hub TV in April 2023 on the possibility of fighting Inoue in the future.
“I like – who's the guy from Japan? Inoue? Yeah.”
“That would be a fun fight, and it would be technical. But I think I would be too big for him.”
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
“”I like Naoya. Before he became (?), I teach him in Japan. I want to train him and supervise his training if he wants to move up to higher weight divisions.”
Q. What do you think of his last performance?
“Fantastic. It was a good performance: fast, quick, strong.”
“Inoue has great speed and lots of power behind his punches. He’s a special fighter! #InoueFulton”
“The Japanese fighter is the best fighter in the world, in my opinion.”
"Inoue is the best blend of natural talent, skill, technique and athleticism that exists in boxing. I think Inoue reaching the top of Ring's P4P rankings is historic, it gives him claim to being the best Japanese boxer of all time. I think he can still be The Monster at junior featherweight.
(Photo courtesy of Douglass Fischer)
WBA IBF WBC
Bantamweight
Title Match
Inoue beats Donaire in their rematch by TKO in the second round
WBA IBF WBC WBO
Bantamweight
Title Match
Inoue on unifying all four titles the day after his victory
WBC WBO
Super Bantamweight
Title Match
Bob Arum, promoter of Top Rank, a major U.S. a boxing promotional company, said Inoue's match against Fulton was a fight that would be talked about for a long time to come and called the Japanese boxer