Inoue’s Challenger, Ex-Champ Akhmadaliev Arrives In Japan

By: Joe Koizumi

No less than three weeks before his ambitious world title crack to regain his belt, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (14-1, 11 KOs), 30, from Uzbekistan, early arrived on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. The southpaw veteran nicknamed “MJ” is slated to have a highly expected shot at the undisputed 122-pound champion Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) at newly opened IG arena, Nagoya, Japan, on September 14. The Uzbekistani southpaw, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, once seized the WBA, IBF super bantam belts but forfeited it to Filipino lefty Marlon Tapales by an upset split decision in San Antonio in April 2023. Having scored three victories all within the distance since, MJ seems to have regained his previous form and sharpness to dethrone the unbeaten Inoue. Akhmadaliev said at the airport, “I’ve come early to get acclimated with the time difference (from California where he had been strenuously training under the tutelage of veteran trainer Joel Diaz). I respect Naoya, but I have my great confidence to beat him and wrest all his four belts.” We are looking forward to his good and competitive performance against “Monster” Naoya.

https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/828415

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