If you look closely, both Gervonta Davis and Naoya Inoue now boast an undefeated 30-0 record. But when you compare it closely, Gervonta Davis’ green column may leave fans a bit underwhelmed, having fought only once in 2024 and once in 2025, and that bout ended in a surprising draw. Many expected it to be an easy lightweight title defense against Lamont Roach Jr, a fighter Davis had already beaten in the amateurs twice. Meanwhile, the Japanese Monster has been anything but inconsistent.

In January, he delivered his 4th-round knockout win in his home country, and just three months later, returned to the U.S. for the first time in four years to secure another eighth-round TKO victory over Ramon Cardenas. And now, with dominance at super bantamweight becoming routine, there are growing calls for Inoue to move up, perhaps even jumping to super featherweight or lightweight to find fresh challenges. Of course, the dream scenario for boxing purists would be a clash between Inoue and Davis!

But as thrilling as that sounds, it remains a fantasy for now. Inoue would have to gain nearly 13 pounds and jump three divisions (an enormous leap in the sport). And although Tank Davis has competed at featherweight and super-featherweight, it’s unclear whether he’d consider jumping back down. But it seems the door has been firmly closed by none other than the two-weight undisputed champion Naoya Inoue himself.

A few hours ago, the confirmation came from TNT Sports Boxing as they shared a post on Instagram. “Riding an 11-fight finishing streak, Naoya Inoue has no plans on jumping up to featherweight just yet ❌,” the caption read. And in the post, Naoya Inoue made his stance clear. “AS LONG AS I CAN MAKE WEIGHT AT THIS DIVISION, I WILL STAY IN THIS DIVISION,” the 32-year-old said.

With multiple world titles across four weight classes, Naoya Inoue clearly knows where he performs best. Since moving to super bantamweight in 2023, he’s been on a dominant six-fight knockout streak. According to reports, if he wins his next bout in Saudi Arabia, as many expect, his fight purse is also likely to rise, potentially surpassing the $1.5 to $2 million range he earned in recent outings.

But beyond the money, it seems Naoya Inoue may have one more compelling reason to stay in the division. What could that be, you ask?

Naoya Inoue isn’t done brawling

After two lackluster Riyadh Season cards left boxing fans underwhelmed, expectations were low heading into Sunday’s showdown. But Naoya Inoue, true to his nickname ‘Monster,’ reignited the excitement with a high-octane slugfest against Ramon Cardenas that reminded everyone why they love the sport.

The fan reaction was instant and widespread. Social media lit up with praise, thanking Naoya Inoue and Cardenas for breathing life back into the sport. Even the GWOAT Claressa Shields joined the chorus, tweeting, “The fights tonight on @espn@trboxing saved the boxing weekend! Great way to bring in Monday 🥊 I’m motivated!” Though Naoya Inoue didn’t replicate his last quick third-round KO from 2021, his latest performance was a gritty, crowd-pleasing battle that showcased his durability, aggression, and elite skill. “Watching the fight, everybody is very much aware I like to brawl,” Inoue reflected afterward. And a brawl it was!

Not everyone, however, was fully satisfied with how it ended. Shakur Stevenson, clearly engaged during the bout, first tweeted a wide-eyed “👀👀👀👀” mid-fight. But when the referee waved it off, Stevenson was quick to voice his take on X: “Bad stoppage,” followed by, “Great fight tho!!”

With that in mind, it seems likely that Naoya Inoue is already eyeing his next move—one that could top even this past weekend’s spectacle. Whether it’s a bid to avenge the controversial finish or just to raise the bar even higher, the Monster looks ready to deliver another blockbuster. So the real question now is: who’s next for Naoya Inoue?