Barry McGuigan, a former featherweight king, recently shared his admiration for Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue in his column for The Mirror. McGuigan commended Inoue’s remarkable achievements in the sport, highlighting the fact that the 31-year-old boxer has already secured world titles in four different weight classes. McGuigan went further to describe Inoue as potentially the hardest pound-for-pound puncher in the world at the moment, showcasing his admiration for the Japanese fighter’s skill and power.
McGuigan expressed awe at Inoue’s seamless progression from being a light-flyweight world champion to claiming the super-bantamweight title. He emphasized that this transition is unlike anything he has witnessed in his lifetime, praising Inoue’s ability to carry his power forward despite moving up in weight classes. McGuigan even speculated that Inoue may have the potential to venture into super featherweight, showcasing his belief in the Japanese boxer’s capabilities to continue his upward trajectory in the sport.
Global Recognition and Future Challenges
While acknowledging Inoue’s popularity in Japan, McGuigan stressed the importance of the boxer showcasing his talent on a global scale. He highlighted the significance of Inoue venturing outside of Japan to compete in order to garner appreciation from a broader audience. McGuigan urged Inoue to consider fighting in the US again, emphasizing the boxer’s status as a global figure and the impact it could have on expanding his fan base worldwide.
McGuigan pondered on the possibility of Inoue moving up two more weight divisions to become a six-weight world champion, underscoring the remarkable feat it would be if achieved. He also hinted at potential matchups for Inoue, including a thrilling bout against Junto Nakatani, which has the potential to become the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. McGuigan hinted at the possibility of this fight taking place at The Tokyo Dome, showcasing the magnitude of such an event in the boxing world.
McGuigan reiterated the global appeal of Naoya Inoue, emphasizing the need for the boxer to showcase his talent beyond just Japan. He highlighted the boxer’s previous appearance in the UK and the potential for future fights in different locations, including a celebratory fight in Vegas as suggested by Bob Arum. McGuigan concluded by underlining Inoue’s status as a global boxing sensation who has captured the attention of the entire world, setting the stage for an exciting future in the sport.