One of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Naoya Inoue, did not have an easy start against Luis Nery. The world was shocked when the Japanese ‘Monster’ was knocked down by a strong left hook from his Mexican opponent in the first round. However, that did not mark the end for him.

After being dropped for the first time in his 12-year-long career, Inoue came back and how. He dropped Nery in the second and fifth rounds. Finally, the Monster closed the dramatic showdown for good in the sixth round with a devastating short right hook. Right after he was declared the winner, he relayed what got him closer to victory.

Still in the ring, ecstatic, overwhelmed, and a little tired, Inoue broke his silence on being dropped to the canvas. A translator on the spot relayed what the fighter had to say in his victory speech. About the knockdown, he remarked, “I am so happy I got knocked down. Actually, that happening gave me good motivation… I am so thankful to get a fight against Luis Nery today at Tokyo Dome.”

He further added, “I don’t remember what my dad told me during intermission but that happening gave me motivation and I remained so focused until the end of the fight.” 

Now that Inoue has proven his worth in his division time and again, the world awaits his transition to the featherweight division. Earlier, he had noted that he would move to the next weight by this year’s end. However, that too, he highlighted would happen only if he felt it was time. In the wake of his stumping victory tonight, former bantamweight champion, Paul Butler had something to say about the weight choice of Inoue.

Is Inoue choosing comfort over challenge?

Butler was Inoue’s last opponent in the bantamweight class. As he defeated the English fighter in December 2022, 31-year-old Inoue emerged undisputed in the class. Next, the Monster moved up to the super bantamweight class, where he followed suit last year by defeating Marlon Tapales to be 2x undisputed, a historic feat, something only Terence Crawford and Claressa Shields have managed to achieve in the four-belt era.

Now, Butler thinks that any hesitance the Japanese fighter shows in moving toward featherweight is his choice of comfort over real risk. To Seconds Out, he noted, “I think it’s obvious it would be very different at featherweight for Inoue, as he would have to face fighters that would not only potentially beat him, but knock him out and dim his star power. Obviously, staying where it’s safe at super bantamweight is one way for Naoya to avoid that terrible outcome.”

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Butler added, “Eventually, size will beat him, and that’s the case with Loma. You’re treating greatness that much that eventually size will become a big part in the fight.”

Do you think Naoya Inoue will shine as bright as he did in Super Bantamweight if he went featherweight? Let us know in the comments section below.