The anticipated clash between Naoya Inoue and Murodjon Akhmadaliev has been officially scheduled for September 14th, taking place at the IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan, as revealed today. Inoue (30 wins, 0 losses, 27 KOs) is set to defend his undisputed super bantamweight title against Akhmadaliev (14 wins, 1 loss, 11 KOs), a matchup regarded by many as the most significant challenge of his career.
Inoue vs. Akhmadaliev Bout Confirmed
The level of excitement that once surrounded this pairing has diminished somewhat following Akhmadaliev’s defeat in 2023 to Marlon Tapales. While the fight remains captivating, it doesn’t quite reach the heights it would have had Naoya agreed to the contest earlier.
Akhmadaliev and his promotional team have been persistent in their efforts to secure this fight with Inoue. Their persistence has paid off, and the match is now confirmed. It will be intriguing to observe how Naoya withstands the powerful punches from Akhmadaliev, given his demonstrated punching ability and superior skill compared to Inoue’s recent opponents.
The timing of this fight aligns favorably for Akhmadaliev, as he faces Inoue, now 32, at a point where signs of decline are beginning to surface after a 13-year professional career. Inoue was knocked down in his previous bout against Ramon Cardenas, a fight initially perceived as another routine victory in his recent series of matches.
Akhmadaliev’s Strength Against Inoue
Unlike Inoue’s most recent adversary, Akhmadaliev possesses formidable power in both hands and showcases superior technical prowess, potentially posing a significant threat to ‘The Monster’ Inoue. Should the Japanese star suffer a defeat in this fight, his aspirations for a domestic showdown with Junto Nakatani will face postponement, necessitating an attempt to avenge his loss against Akhmadaliev.
Since his surprising defeat to Marlon Tapales in 2023 via a 12-round split decision, a contest that many felt could have easily favored him, the Uzbekistani Akhmadaliev has secured victories in his last three matches. Observers felt the judges were not very generous with Akhmadaliev in their scoring of the fight.
