The featherweight contender says he would fight Naoya Inoue in Tokyo or New York if the financial terms reflect his leverage at 126 pounds
Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington says he is prepared to face Naoya Inoue in Japan if the financial terms are right, while arguing New York could become an equally lucrative stage for the fight. Carrington believes moving up to featherweight would shift part of the negotiating leverage in his favor despite Inoue’s global drawing power.
Asked by Max Kellerman whether he would go to Japan to face Inoue, Carrington said the business side of the fight would be important if the unbeaten Japanese star moves up to featherweight.
“It all has to make sense for me. The financial aspect for me and in terms of the leverage and everything,” said Carrington on the InsideRingShow. “Because, to be honest, if he moves up in weight, he won’t have a belt. This will not be his weight class. I will have the leverage.”
Kellerman disagreed, pointing to Inoue’s drawing power.
“Not just that, but also he’s drawing the crowds. It’s not that you can’t draw a crowd. It’s that he’s drawing a crowd that no one has ever drawn in this weight class. That’s what I mean by leverage.”
Carrington agreed with that assessment but said Inoue’s ambition to expand his profile in the United States could make New York another viable option.
“I see where you’re going. You’re not wrong. He’s undoubtedly top three, top two pound-for-pound best.”
“I will say he’s interested in building a bigger fanbase in America, too. Why not do it in New York? Why not do it in the mecca of boxing and fight a guy like me? It would definitely attract a lot of revenue and a lot of fans coming to New York.”
Carrington said he would still welcome the opportunity to fight Inoue in Japan.
“Now, it makes more sense to fight in Japan. I’m more than open to do that. I’ve been dying to go to Japan anyway ever since I was supposed to qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. I’ve never been in Japan, and I would love to experience that trip alone. But yeah, if it makes sense to fight in Tokyo, I would love to do that. But if not, New York it will be.”
Carrington is unbeaten and is one of the leading contenders in the featherweight division. Inoue currently holds the undisputed junior featherweight championship and has repeatedly said he intends to move up to featherweight before the end of his career. A fight between the two would depend on Inoue vacating his 122-pound titles and moving into Carrington’s division.
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