Former IBF & WBA super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev put undisputed champ Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue on notice today, saying he’ll be “shocked” by his power if he chooses to face him in 2024.
Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs) is the mandatory challenger for Inoue’s recently won WBA 122-lb title after defeating Kevin Gonzalez by an eighth round knockout last December in a title eliminator.
Last April, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Akhmadaliev lost his his IBF & WBA titles to Marlon Tapales by a twelve round split decision. He now wants to win those titles back again, Inoue or whoever holds them.
‘Monster’ Inoue could be facing his WBC mandatory Luis Nery next, and possibly Akhmadaliev after that.
Power and skillset
“I’m the [WBA super bantamweight] mandatory, and if he wants to fight me and if this fight is offered to us, there’s no doubt that I will take it as soon as possible. I’m ready to step in the ring with him,” said Murodjon Akhmadaliev to Fighthype about wanting to challenge Naoya Inoue for his undisputed 122-lb championship next.
“Of course, as a fighter, as a champion, I feel like I’m the best fighter in this division. I feel like I have the tools needed to beat Inoue. I feel like I have the most power in this division,” said Akhmadaliev.
The former IBF/WBA champion Akhmadaliev says Inoue didn’t look as dominating in his recent tenth round stoppage win over Tapales on December 26th as he’d been in his previous fights.
He’s not sure why, but it could be that Inoue has reached his limit in fighting in his fourth weight class. That’s bad news for Inoue if he stays around 122 long enough to fight Akhmadaliev because he appears to punch just as hard as him, and he’ll be testing his chin.
“I will bring in the most power that he hasn’t faced before, and I will bring the skill set that he hasn’t faced before with all my amateur background and now my pro experience, too. I also know how to use the ring,” said Akhmadaliev.
Akhmadaliev wants to reclaim IBF & WBA titles
“I feel like I’m the best fighter, the whole package that he hasn’t faced. I will give him the challenge that he hasn’t faced before. I definitely feel that, and I feel I can beat him. But as far as politics and who he’s going to fight, that’s not up to me, but my goal is not Inoue. My goal is the world title, especially my world title, IBF & WBA,” said Akhmadaliev.
If Inoue chooses not to defend against Akhmadaliev this year, it’ll be up to the World Boxing Association to order or strip him of his belt with their organization so he doesn’t sit on the belt. If they strip him, Akhmadaliev will face the highest ranked willing and available contender for the title.
“Right now, I’m in the WBA position. If he doesn’t want to fight me, he can vacate the title, and I would love to fight someone else for the title, whoever the WBA gives me,” said Akhmadaliev.
“I respect and admire what Inoue does in the ring. He moves up weight classes, and he’s knocking everyone out. That’s amazing. There’s not too many guys that I’m watching their fights, and he’s one of the guys that I’m watching,” said Akhmadaliev about Monster Inoue.
The argument that fans have about Inoue is that although he’s captured world titles in four weight classes, the opposition that he’s beaten to claim those belts has been unimpressive. He’s fought a bunch of lesser fighters who were marginal in ability and not the talented punch that exists at 126, 130, and 135.
“Again, I think I’m so much different than anyone that he’s ever fought, and I can take a punch, for sure, and I can also punch,” said Akhmadaliev. When I spar guys two classes above me, they’re shocked when I’m punching them. They’re getting shocked after getting hit by me.
“So, I can punch too. So, it all depends in the ring. I’m not about. I’m not concentrating on the punching power. I’m not focusing only on hitting the target. I’m also thinking a lot about the movement, the footwork, about everything else,” said Akhmadaliev.
It’s going to be interesting to see if Inoue chooses to fight Akhmadaliev this year, and if he does, if he can handle his power without breaking apart like he did in his first fight against Nonito Donaire.
“Everything in the ring, it plays out. Styles make fights. You never know. Once I touch him, he’ll be shocked, and he’ll be like, ‘I should stay outside or whatever.’ It just depends on how the fight goes. There are so many factors in the ring that you have to consider, not just punching power,” said Akhmadaliev.
“He’s definitely a big puncher, he’s very explosive, and he’s definitely very good at what he does. Also feel like there are weaknesses I can expose,” said Akhmadaliev.
