There were stretches of his most recent title defense when Naoya Inoue felt the urge the familiar instinct to close the show with a knockout. But for the first time in his career, he consciously suppressed it.
Inoue cruised to a wide unanimous decision over former unified champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev on September 14, a fight he controlled from the opening bell. And though there were opportunities to press for the stoppage, the undisputed 122-pound king says he chose composure over carnage.
According to Inoue, the choice was not just strategic it was self-correction.
Lessons From Nery and Cardenas Knockdowns
Inoue has been nearly flawless across four divisions, but the Japanese superstar acknowledges one flaw his opponents have begun to target: his desire to entertain.