The Naoya Inoue-Murodjon Akhmadaliev 122-pound championship fight is organized by the WBA
Naoya Inoue climbs the ropes in celebration after his May 6 knockout victory over Luis Nery at the Tokyo Dome. Photo Credit: Naoki Fukuda
Naoya Inoue officially has his marching orders.
The Ring and the undisputed 122-pound king has been ordered to face WBA mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev again. Both sides were ordered to enter into negotiations for 30 days to reach the terms.
“The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee has ordered the fight mandatory,” the judging body announced on Thursday. “The pioneer organization sent an official communication to the groups… and gave them 30 days to negotiate, which will end on July 14.”
Inoue is promoted by Ohashi Promotions and Top Rank. Akhmadaliev owns Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing.
According to rule C.10 of the WBA Championships, wrestlers must honor his obligation within nine months from the time they claim the belt. Inoue (27-0, 24 knockouts) fully consolidated the division when he knocked out Marlon Tapales (38-4, 20 KOs) in the tenth round last December 26 in Tokyo. Ring's No. 1 fighter. 2 rated pound for pound defended his WBC and WBO titles while claiming the WBA and IBF belts.
Yokohama's Inoue also established the Ring's championship roster with the win.
He followed that up with a thrilling sixth-round knockout of Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) on May 6 at the Tokyo Dome. Inoue had to survive the first knockdown of his career—in the first round—to fight back and bully Nery into submission.
IBF-bound Sam Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs) was stubborn and made a point of demanding a fight with Inoue. The unbeaten Aussie has softened his stance and will instead be looking to stay busy. The news destroyed the online credibility of Nadim Haddad, his biggest man.
10 months of harassing Inoue under his post! I also had to learn to speak Japanese, but it's there now. Sam Goodman 118-110 incoming. There will be one scary moment in the fight, but I think Inoue will weather the storm and see the distance. #InoueGoodman
— Nadim Haddad (@NadimElHaddad1) May 6, 2024
Uzbekistan's Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs) previously held the WBA and IBF belts.
The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist dethroned Daniel Roman via split decision in their January 2020 rematch in Miami Gardens, Florida. Only three defensive moves followed in a reign halted by injury and illness.
Akhmadaliev lost the belts to Tapales in a controversial split decision last April 8 in San Antonio, Texas. He quickly returned to mandatory challenger status one fight later. Akhmadaliev stopped undefeated Kevin Gonzalez in the eighth round of the WBA title fight last December 16 in Glendale, Arizona.
Inoue has mentioned Akhmadaliev as part of his plan for three fights in 2024, all at junior featherweight.
The hope is that the war will start in September. However, it may no longer be part of Turki Alalshikh's UK premiere.
Inoue has won titles at 108, 115, 118 and 122. He became the first untitled Japanese champion in a four-belt era when he fully integrated the bantamweight division. One fight later, Inoue became the first Japanese fighter to win major titles in four divisions with a one-sided victory over Stephen Fulton last July.
Winning the WBC/WBO 122-pound title led to Inoue once again becoming Japan's number one contender for the two combined divisions. He added more history to his nation with his victory over Tapales to claim undisputed championship status in two weight divisions.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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