Naoya Inoue planning to return to a Japanese ring in April
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Earlier today in Japan fight fans saw the latest Ohashi card and whilst that was exciting they also had the chance to see Bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18) [井上 尚弥], who was there to help support his Ohashi gym stablemates.
At today's event Inoue and promoter Hideyuki Ohashi spoke to the media and explained the plan for Inoue going forward.
Inoue explained that he plans to fight again this year in, though it's currently unclear if that bout will be in Japan or not due to the on going Covid19 pandemic. It seems that he and his team would like the bout to be in Japan, but realise it may not be possible.
Despite that Ohashi did seem to want to make things up to Japanese fans, who haven't see Inoue fighting in Japan since 2019, explaining that "We are thinking of a big match in Japan next April," and the suggestion is that they are eyeing an April 2022 date for a world title unification bout.
Whilst plans aren't concrete, and in boxing even concrete plans can change, it does seem like we could Inoue fighting twice in the space of 6 months if things go the way he and Ohashi are hoping. That is a stark change to how things have been since since 2020, with Inoue fighting just twice since his memorable WBSS final victory over Nonito Donaire in November 2019.
At today's event Inoue and promoter Hideyuki Ohashi spoke to the media and explained the plan for Inoue going forward.
Inoue explained that he plans to fight again this year in, though it's currently unclear if that bout will be in Japan or not due to the on going Covid19 pandemic. It seems that he and his team would like the bout to be in Japan, but realise it may not be possible.
Despite that Ohashi did seem to want to make things up to Japanese fans, who haven't see Inoue fighting in Japan since 2019, explaining that "We are thinking of a big match in Japan next April," and the suggestion is that they are eyeing an April 2022 date for a world title unification bout.
Whilst plans aren't concrete, and in boxing even concrete plans can change, it does seem like we could Inoue fighting twice in the space of 6 months if things go the way he and Ohashi are hoping. That is a stark change to how things have been since since 2020, with Inoue fighting just twice since his memorable WBSS final victory over Nonito Donaire in November 2019.