Naoya Inoue and his father/trainer Shingo pose with their latest sanctioning body titles. Photo by Naoki Fukuda
Naoya Inoue received the WBC and WBO 122-pound titles he earned with his sensational eighth-round stoppage of Stephen Fulton on July 25 during a media ceremony in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday.
The press conference took place prior to an Ohashi Promotions boxing event featuring Inoue’s cousin Koki, a junior welterweight standout, and national featherweight champ Keisuke Matsumoto.
“I truly appreciate your people’s warm support,” said Inoue (25-0, 20 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1-rated junior featherweight and No. 2 in the magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings.
“I’m fully satisfied with the situation around me as I hear the negotiation of the unification bout with (my) WBA/IBF counterpart Marlon Tapales — with all the four belts on the line — is coming to an end soon.”
Should the showdown with Tapales, The Ring’s No. 2-rated junior featherweight, take place this year (as planned), Inoue will have the opportunity to win a second Ring Magazine title in a second weight class and become a two-division undisputed champion (within 12 months of becoming undisputed at bantamweight).
Inoue’s father/trainer Shingo also received the WBC’s special belt recognizing outstanding coaches.
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Naoya Inoue is the first Japanese boxer to win The Ring's Fighter-of-the-Year honor in the publication's 95-year history of the prestigious award.
