Despite Floyd Mayweather’s Interest and Naoya Inoue’s Recent Undisputed Title Win, a Gervonta Davis Fight Is Senseless for the Japanese Monster

Naoya Inoue is one of the very few. The Japanese boxer finds himself at the pinnacle of the boxing world after collecting the undisputed label, his second overall, at super bantamweight as he crushed Marlon Tapales on December 26th. Fans and pundits are throwing his name along with Terence Crawford for the current P4P #1 great. While Inoue continues to pick belts for fun and then relinquish those to chase glory in a higher division, there are rumors of a PPV blockbuster clash with Gervonta Davis.

‘The Monster’ is a four-division champion, as he started his dominating journey at 108 pounds and now reigns supreme at 122. His iron-clad chin and technical boxing skills have won him two undisputed titles in less than a year. The same skill set has allowed him to impose his will against Stephen Fulton and, more recently, against Tapales on Tuesday in Tokyo. But the lingering question remains. Will the 30-year-old continue to move up, cruise past other opponents, and eventually meet ‘Tank’? Is the fight between the two even possible?

Naoya Inoue vs. Gervonta Davis: A PPV talk away from reality?

The curious case of Naoya Inoue has perplexed Floyd Mayweather, who has sparked murmurs of a potential fight between him and Davis. ‘Money’ is unconvinced of Inoue’s exploits and would prefer him if he someday picks up a fight with Davis. However, the retired boxer’s offer comes with its own set of terms and conditions attached to it, along with a scathing dig.

But does Inoue need to fight Davis to prove his worth? Does he need to cave into Mayweather’s demands? No. Inoue has already set his legacy in stone and cemented himself as a modern great. His willingness to tear apart skilled opponents and his quick and lethal punches already set him apart.

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While the probable fight with Davis will earn Inoue the biggest paycheck of his career, he knows he doesn’t need the fight. Inoue declared, “I don’t think it’s possible [to fight Gervonta Davis]. It’s more hype that fans are putting together.” Likewise, he realizes it’s impossible to set up a fight bridging these many divisions.

The job in hand at super bantamweight

Naoya Inoue, at 26-0, doesn’t want to juice down and put himself through the weight-cut ordeal. What works for him is his rehydration, as he has a relative size advantage against his opponents in the ring. The Zama native looks massive, and his body shots pack the power of a 140-pounder when connected.

Therefore, whenever Inoue has moved up, he hasn’t faced a challenge. He can move up to 130 or even 135 if need be. Notably, Davis’ lowest weight has been 130, and he has found stability at the 135-pound division. A theoretical matchup between them is not a far-fetched idea. Can Davis come down a division? Possibly. But asking Inoue to put on these many pounds might be an unsettling condition for him.

A long training camp and strength program are what Inoue would need to employ, which is a tedious task. Meanwhile, Inoue needs to find stability soon, and right now, his eyes are set on super bantamweight. Can he replicate his success and utter dominance at lightweight? Highly unlikely. There is a ceiling to what Inoue can do physically.

The bar for Naoya Inoue

Featherweight might be Inoue’s final weight class. If he keeps climbing, his chances of dropping a fight also increase. His power won’t remain the factor that separates him and his opponents beyond featherweight. Inoue can outshine ‘Bud’ as P4P number 1 if he excels at featherweight, but that won’t nudge him closer to a fight with Davis.

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Inoue’s skills might have a limit at 126 lbs. Inoue can dismantle boxers at 126 pounds but might hit a wall at 130. Asking him to move up to 136 pounds is asking too much from a fighter who has already earned the undisputed tag in two divisions. Jumping two more divisions will stack the odds against Inoue, thus setting him up to lose. Inoue can even call it quits and would still be considered one of the greatest to walk into the square circle. But a fight against Gervonta Davis is not something he should entertain.

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