WBA order Inoue to make mandatory defense
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Overnight it was announced that the WBA had now ordered a mandatory defense of their Super Bantamweight world title, currently held by Undisputed champion Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24) [井上尚弥]. The unbeaten Japanese sensation has been given a 30 day negotiation window, ending July 14th, to agree a fight with Uzbekistani fighter Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9) [Ахмадалиев, Муроджон Кахарович], himself a former WBA and IBF champion.
The bout has come about as the WBA expect champions to make a mandatory defense within 9 months of winning their title, which Inoue did back on December 26th when he stopped Filipino Marlon Tapales, the guy who actually dethroned Akhmadaliev. That means the fight must take place on, or before September 25th.
With this order form the WBA it essentially kills the slim hope of Inoue facing unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman (18-0, 8), who had originally seemed to be the planned opponent with Goodman joining Inoue in the ring following Inoue’s win over Luis Nery in May. It also scuppers what seemed to be the back up plan, with Inoue touting the name of former IBF champion TJ Doheny (26-4, 19).
Although those plans are now off the table, the date lines up with when we were expecting an Inoue return, with the plan always bening September. It also opens the door to a lot of potential venues, including a Wembley date, as part of the planned Anthony Joshua card on September 21st, which had been suggested as a possibility by Sanspo back in May. It could also see Inoue return to the US, given Akhmadaliev has fought numerous times in the US, or alternatively Inoue could be headlining the first boxing show at the newly opened Es Con Field Hokkaido, a 35,000 seater baseball stadium in Hokkaido, which has been trying to put together a package for Inoue.
As for Akhmadlaiev the bout will be his second since losing a split decision to Tapales in April 2023, with his only bout since that loss being a December win over the previously unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez. Coming into September that 8 rounds against Gonzalez will likely be the only rounds in over a year, that "MJ" will have had to prepare for facing Monster.
Like Inoue we saw Akhmadaliev have a rapid rise through the ranks. He won the WBA and IBF titles in his 8th bout, taking a nail biting win over Daniel Roman in early 2020, and successfully defended the titles 3 times, beating Ryosuke Iwasa, Jose Velasquez and Ronny Rios, before coming up short against Tapales. Before Inoue made his mark on the division there had been hope for a bout between Akhmadaliev and Stephon Fulton, but Akhmadaliev lost to Tapales and Inoue landed the Fulton fight, to claim the WBC and WBO titles last July.
The bout has come about as the WBA expect champions to make a mandatory defense within 9 months of winning their title, which Inoue did back on December 26th when he stopped Filipino Marlon Tapales, the guy who actually dethroned Akhmadaliev. That means the fight must take place on, or before September 25th.
With this order form the WBA it essentially kills the slim hope of Inoue facing unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman (18-0, 8), who had originally seemed to be the planned opponent with Goodman joining Inoue in the ring following Inoue’s win over Luis Nery in May. It also scuppers what seemed to be the back up plan, with Inoue touting the name of former IBF champion TJ Doheny (26-4, 19).
Although those plans are now off the table, the date lines up with when we were expecting an Inoue return, with the plan always bening September. It also opens the door to a lot of potential venues, including a Wembley date, as part of the planned Anthony Joshua card on September 21st, which had been suggested as a possibility by Sanspo back in May. It could also see Inoue return to the US, given Akhmadaliev has fought numerous times in the US, or alternatively Inoue could be headlining the first boxing show at the newly opened Es Con Field Hokkaido, a 35,000 seater baseball stadium in Hokkaido, which has been trying to put together a package for Inoue.
As for Akhmadlaiev the bout will be his second since losing a split decision to Tapales in April 2023, with his only bout since that loss being a December win over the previously unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez. Coming into September that 8 rounds against Gonzalez will likely be the only rounds in over a year, that "MJ" will have had to prepare for facing Monster.
Like Inoue we saw Akhmadaliev have a rapid rise through the ranks. He won the WBA and IBF titles in his 8th bout, taking a nail biting win over Daniel Roman in early 2020, and successfully defended the titles 3 times, beating Ryosuke Iwasa, Jose Velasquez and Ronny Rios, before coming up short against Tapales. Before Inoue made his mark on the division there had been hope for a bout between Akhmadaliev and Stephon Fulton, but Akhmadaliev lost to Tapales and Inoue landed the Fulton fight, to claim the WBC and WBO titles last July.