Former WBA Featherweight Champion, Barry McGuigan, has labelled newly-crowned unified super-bantamweight champion, Naoya Inoue, as one of the ‘greatest punchers of all-time’.
Inoue began his career at light-flyweight and has been dominant in every fight since. Now, ‘The Monster’ has added the 122lb titles to his collection, becoming a four-weight champion after knocking out the WBC and WBO titlist Stephen Fulton in sensational fashion.
Many expected that Fulton’s significant physical advantages could prove a tough test for the Japanese phenomenon, but Inoue put on a boxing clinic before showcasing his punch-power and ruthless finishing, ending the contest in the eighth round.
Speaking before the fight in his column for The Mirror, Hall of Famer McGuigan praised the 30-year-old and shared his astonishment at the unlikely power that the 5ft 5in superstar possesses.
“Inoue is one of the greatest punchers of all time. The lighter divisions have given us some bangers in the past, but I don’t remember any like him, certainly not from Japan.”
“He has cartoon power. He just flattens opponents. I have never seen boxers go down like they do against this guy. It’s extraordinary.”
“Inoue is all the more remarkable for looking like he carries no kind of threat. Until he hits you.”
After becoming undisputed at bantamweight, Inoue seems intent on repeating the feat at his new weight-class, with WBA and IBF champion, Marlon Tapales, entering the ring after the bout and agreeing to a battle for the undisputed crown.
Inoue will be a firm favourite for the clash and many fans are already speculating whether a victory will see him move up to featherweight.
The boxing world is well and truly behind the apparent pound-for-pound number one and delighted at the prospect of his desire to conquer as many divisions as possible.