Number one bantamweight Naoya Inoue is reportedly set to return to the ring in June.
According to Sports Hochi the WBA and IBF champion could have his 23rd fight at the Tokyo Dome or Saitama Super Arena.
The latter was the site for one of Inoue’s greatest victories when he defeated future hall of famer Nonito Donaire over 12 rounds in what was the Japanese icon’s toughest test to date.
The memorable win also gave ‘Monster’ the Muhammad Ali trophy as he won the bantamweight World Boxing Super Series. And this June we could see a rematch between the two with the Filipino star in the running to fight Inoue, as is his countryman and bitter rival WBO champion John Riel Casimero.
Inoue kept up his unbeaten record in 2021 with two wins inside the distance. In June came his second fight in Las Vegas when he destroyed Michael Dasmarinas in three rounds. Last month the knockout artist returned to Japan and stopped Aran Dipaen in eight rounds.
Inoue has said, however, that if the unifications cannot be made then he will move up to super-bantamweight in a bid to become a four-weight world champion.