Naoya Inoue Defends Super-Bantamweight Titles Against Murodjon Akhmadaliev In Japan

Japan's undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue announced he will defend his titles against Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev on September 14 in Nagoya, Japan. Inoue, who is undefeated with a 30-0 record including 27 knockouts, recently stopped American Ramon Cardenas in the eighth round in Las Vegas, marking his first fight outside Japan in four years. Despite being knocked down for only the second time in his career during that bout, Inoue recovered quickly to secure the win. Akhmadaliev, a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and former WBA and IBF super-bantamweight champion, presents a tough challenge with his powerful punches and technical skills, especially following his three consecutive wins after a split decision loss in 2023. The fight is seen as a significant test for Inoue, who is 32 and showing some signs of wear after 13 years in professional boxing. A loss for Inoue could delay his planned domestic fight against Junto Nakatani and require a rematch to avenge his defeat.