Naoya Inoue solidified his place among boxing’s elite on December 26, 2023. The Japanese fighter, already a favorite on many top pound-for-pound lists, boasts an undefeated record of 25-0 and has secured world titles across four weight divisions. In July 2023, he made a stunning super bantamweight debut by knocking out reigning WBC and WBO champion Stephen Fulton, giving himself a shot at becoming an undisputed champion in that division.
In the boxing world, July 2023 also marked a historic moment for Terrence Crawford, who became the first boxer to achieve undisputed status in two separate weight classes after defeating Errol Spence and collecting all four major welterweight belts. Six years prior, he had accomplished this at light welterweight by defeating Julius Indongo. Inoue mirrored Crawford’s success when he defeated WBA (super) and IBF super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapiares with a knockout in the 10th round at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
This exclusive group of two-division undisputed champions, which includes Inoue and Crawford, is expected to expand as Oleksandr Usyk aims to become the first heavyweight to hold all four major titles by May 2024 after dominating the cruiserweight division.
Looking ahead, though Crawford has outshone many by besting Canelo Alvarez and becoming the first three-division undisputed champion, Inoue could soon match or surpass this achievement given the flexibility in his weight class. His next challenge is to defend his titles against Alain Picasso on December 27th, who hopes to hand Inoue his first professional loss. A victory here might pave the way for an exciting superfight in 2026 against Junto Nakatani, who will debut at super bantamweight on the same event card.
Fan Take: Naoya Inoue’s continued rise and potential matchups are thrilling developments for fight fans, symbolizing the thrilling evolution of skill and competition across multiple weight classes. This era of champions stacking undisputed titles could redefine legacy and elevate global interest in the sport like never before.
