Inoue-Butler: Who Will Be Undisputed?

Longtime readers know that a consistent feature every year on this observer’s annual “Boxing Wishlist” that usually begins the schedule at the start of a new year here on The Boxing Truth® that usually ranks near the top of the list, perhaps only outranked by a sincere desire to see the outdated and often inflated pay-per-view model done away with in favor of more economically reasonable subscription-based alternatives, is a wish to eventually see one undisputed world champion crowned in each of Boxing’s seventeen weight divisions. While much like my stance on the pay-per-view model doing more harm to the sport of Boxing than it does to benefit it or the fighters that compete in it, the wish to see one undisputed world champion determined per weight class is something that most fans would probably view as wishful thinking and not realistic. Although it is indeed true that due to the various political aspects that are involved in the sport, including, but not limited to multiple sanctioning organizations, rival promoters, and yes competing television networks that all too often get in the way of fights of significant interest amongst the public being made, much less the task of unifying divisions on both the male and female sides of the sport, there has been gradual progress made in recent years for both men and women in determining one world champion in various divisions.

Despite the fact that the subject of determining one world champion per weight class is a broad one that will continue to be touched upon by yours truly at various times when circumstances warrant it and will unfortunately remain a fixture on this observer’s “Boxing Wishlist” for likely many years to come due to the aforementioned factors, gradual progress is indeed better than no progress at all and for a sport that is all too often surrounded by negatives and at times out right ridiculed for such, anyone that truly has the sport’s best interest at heart should look at any progress in this area as a win for Boxing.

As the remainder of the 2022 Boxing schedule continues to wind down, such progress will continue, this time in the 118lb. Bantamweight division as world champions Nayoya Inoue and Paul Butler will meet to determine the Undisputed Bantamweight championship of the world on Tuesday, December 13th at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The fight, which can be seen here in the United States during the early morning hours on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ also continues to show progress in the fact that a fight like this in one of the sport’s lighter divisions is being made available to American audiences. Something that prior to the advent of streaming technology and subscription-based sports networks like ESPN+ and DAZN was not always the case.

One could perhaps make a viable argument that a reason for that as it relates to this particular fight beyond that it will be for an undisputed world championship is the undefeated WBA/IBF/WBC world champion Nayoya Inoue. Although Inoue is actually a three-division world champion , his run in the 118lb. Bantamweight division has exposed him to American Boxing fans due in part to his being co-promoted by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc., who has an exclusive broadcast deal with ESPN. Some may also recall that Inoue emerged as a unified world champion in winning the Bantamweight tournament in the first season of the highly-acclaimed World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) tournaments.

In was in the finals of that tournament where Inoue faced the toughest test of his career in multi-division world champion Nonito Donaire in November 2019. Despite his nickname as “The Monster” and his having carved a reputation as a feared “Knockout Artist,” the veteran Donaire was able to provide Inoue with a battle in what turned out to be one of the best fighter of 2019 that saw Inoue earn a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision.

Since that grueling war, Inoue has continued to score highlight reel knockouts of whomever is put before him. Perhaps both because of Inoue’s ability to score what are often brutal knockouts and the fact that Donaire was really the first fighter to provide significant resistance against him, that a rematch between the two would take place at some point. The second encounter between Inoue and Donaire took place in June of this year, but unlike the toe to toe battle we saw in 2019, Inoue would add Donaire to his list of knockout victims in scoring a brutal second round knockout to add the WBC world championship to his unified crown.

Although Inoue made a statement by knocking out the future Hall of Famer Donaire in devastating fashion and in the process, should have removed any questions that might have been following their first bout three years earlier, I found myself asking one question in the aftermath of that rematch, is there anyone at 118lbs. that can stop this destructive force?

Perhaps the last man standing that can try to answer that question before Inoue likely sets his sights on moving up to the 122lb. Jr. Featherweight division, is the man who will be standing across the ring from him on December 13th in the form of WBO Bantamweight world champion Paul Butler. Butler, a veteran of thirty-six professional fights will have an experience edge over the twenty-three fight veteran Inoue. Butler’s reign as WBO champion only began in April of this year and one might question the wisdom in taking a fight for an undisputed championship so quickly after winning a world championship, despite it being likely the most lucrative bout of his career.

The United Kingdom-based Butler will nevertheless be the visiting fighter as this bout will take place on Inoue’s home turf in Japan. How can Butler pull off what some would call a major upset in this fight? In thinking of how this fight could be fought, I consistently thought of one scenario Butler could attempt to implement. He must try to establish himself as an elusive target from the outset. Nayoya Inoue is a fighter with a seek and destroy mentality that comes forward and looks to cut the ring off from his opponent and set up opportunities to end a fight as quickly as possible. Of  twenty-three career wins, only three fighters managed to go the distance with Inoue. This statistic along with his near 87% career knockout percentage suggests that the fight plan for Inoue will be the same as virtually all his previous fights, press forward, attempt to walk Butler down and land power shots with the intent to end the fight early. Although easier said than done, Butler must be elusive, try to pick his spots, use lateral movement to try and evade Inoue as he comes forward, and resist going toe to toe with him at all times if he wants to be successful.

Ultimately, there are likely some that view this fight as a mere footnote in the career of Nayoya Inoue as he likely looks ahead to the Jr. Featherweight division in the not too distant future. This fight nevertheless does represent the first time that there will be an undisputed world champion in the modern era in the 118lb. Bantamweight division and regardless of what may happen down the line, there is history that will be made. No matter what happens, the sport of Boxing will be elevated, if it turns out to be a great fight that some may not expect as well, even better.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Inoue vs. Butler takes place on Tuesday, December 13th at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The fight can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 2:30AM ET/11:30PM PT and will be available for on demand viewing shortly after the conclusion of the event. ESPN+ is available on the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. *Check your local listings internationally.

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

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Inoue -Donaire: The Rematch

In November 2019, the Boxing world saw the conclusion of the second season of the highly acclaimed World Boxing Super Series (WBSS). To be more specific, the conclusion of that season’s Bantamweight tournament where world champions Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire put their respective championships on the line to determine not only the tournament winner, but who the best fighter was in the 118lb. Bantamweight division.

 

While the fight also had the storyline of youth versus experience with the future Hall of Famer Donaire in the role of trying to defy the odds by defeating a fighter that had dominated nearly every opponent he had faced in Inoue, no one was prepared for the classic encounter that took place when the two fighters entered the ring. A fight that was fought at a high pace from the opening bell, Inoue and Donaire engaged in a memorable battle for twelve rounds that was regarded by many as 2019’s Fight of the Year.

 

On that evening it was Inoue who was victorious by a twelve round unanimous decision. Now, two and a half years later, Inoue and Donaire prepare to meet again in a rematch that will take place on Tuesday, June 7^th at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The fight, which will be broadcast here in the United States by digital subscription-based sports streaming network ESPN+ has two similarities to the first encounter.

 

Like the first fight, it is a unification bout and as was the case going into that bout, Nonito Donaire comes into this fight off of back to back stoppage wins including regaining a portion of the World Bantamweight championship in May of last year. Now as the WBC world champion, Donaire will attempt to claim the unified IBF/WBA crown from Inoue. A unified portion of the Bantamweight championship that includes the WBA championship that Inoue took from Donaire.

 

As was the case going into the first fight, Inoue will enter the rematch having scored knockouts in his last three bouts. The question that will be asked of Nonito Donaire in this fight will be what adjustments has been able to make. While it is important to remember that Donaire is one of only three fighters to have gone the distance with Inoue in his twenty-two professional fights, the first bout between the two was fought in a way that largely favored Inoue in it being mostly toe to toe.

 

Although Donaire was able to remain competitive throughout in a fight that this observer felt was very close, the key in my eyes will be whether or not he will be able to dictate the tempo of the combat. It is important to keep in mind that Nonito Donaire has been through several grueling battles throughout his career and the first encounter with Inoue was no exception.

 

While it may be easier said than done, Donaire must find a way to implement a tactical approach in this rematch. Even though he held his own against Inoue and keeping in mind that he has punching power of his own, the fight that was fought in the first encounter was tailor made for Inoue and that was largely why the victory went to him. This time, Donaire should focus more on Boxing and trying to create openings rather than electing to go toe to toe.  Though the possibility certainly exists that Donaire could catch Inoue with a fight ending blow because after all, anything can happen in Boxing and by extension all combat sports, wisdom would suggest that Donaire saw that the way the first fight was fought was not to his advantage and as such, the focus going into the rematch largely will center on Donaire and whether or not he will be able to make adjustments.

 

In thinking of how an adjustment could be made, this observer feels that he needs to establish himself as an elusive target. The way he could accomplish this could be by using lateral movement. Nayoa Inoue has a style that can be summed up as seek and destroy with an emphasis on walking his opponents down with steady pressure and looking to land power punches. Donaire must use his legs to offset that pressure and look to take advantage of whatever openings Inoue might leave him as well as pick his spots to land his offense.

 

The fight plan for Inoue seem simple, he needs to cut off the ring and try to nullify Donaire ‘s movement. If Donaire is committed to implementing a Boxing strategy this time around, Inoue needs to find a way to do what he was able to accomplish in the first fight. To force Donaire into his type of fight.

 

One of the appeals of rematches throughout all of sports is not only the anticipation of what will happen, but also who will be able to make adjustments and improve on their performance from the previous encounter. For a fight that proved to be the Fight of the Year the last time these two fighters faced each other, the rematch between Inoue and Nonito Donaire certainly has a tough act to follow.

 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

 

 Inoue vs. Donaire 2 takes place on Tuesday, June 7^th at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan. The fight can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 5:30AM ET/2:30AM PT and will be available for on-demand viewing shortly after the live broadcast concludes.  ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/ Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com.

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

The Aftermath: Ramirez-Taylor

 

With much of the Boxing world setting it’s attention on events occurring outside of the ring that are all too often the subject of criticism and ridicule that the sport for the worse and not the better seems to deal with constantly, with the world still dealing with the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, all attention for one evening was set on the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV for an event that unfortunately is too rare in Boxing. A unification bout to determine one “Undisputed World Champion.”

 

In this instance, this event, which took place on May 22^nd, occurred in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. While the history of the division is one that has seen many memorable battles and legendary champions that have been chronicled on more than one occasion by this observer, all the ingredients that make an event of this magnitude special and unfortunately a rarity were present here. Two undefeated world champions, each in their prime and each held in high regard putting their respective portions of the Jr. Welterweight championship of the world on the line to determine one champion. There was also the element of this being what appeared on paper to be an encounter between two evenly matched boxer/punchers in WBC/WBO world champion Jose Ramirez and IBF/WBA world champion Josh Taylor.

 

As readers may recall in previewing this fight, this observer stated that the scenario that came to my mind in thinking of how this bout could be fought was one that would be a tactical battle due to the similarities of both fighters where the ebb and flow could shift back and forth throughout. Early in the fight, this essentially appeared to be exactly how the fight would be fought with both fighters having periods of success in the same rounds that appeared to indicate that this could be a difficult fight to score if it went the twelve round distance.

 

An aspect that I perhaps was not expecting that turned out to be a subtle, yet significant difference as the fight progressed was the advantage in hand speed that Taylor was able to use so effectively along with his timing. Ramirez seemed to have trouble navigating a way to get his punches off without having to sustain some form of punishment as he threw those shots. This can be attributed to not only Taylor’s hand speed, but also how effective he was in using angles and his legs to set opportunities up.

 

One such opportunity occurred in round six when Taylor dropped Ramirez with a perfectly timed counter left hook as he was coming forward that sent Ramirez down to the canvas. Despite appearing hurt, Ramirez to his credit was able to get up and stepped up his aggression. Although much of the story of this fight in this observer’s view became the performance of Josh Taylor as it progressed, Ramirez was very effective when he was able to land offense to Taylor’s body. He was not however, able to sustain an attack to the body for significant periods of time and this in part can be attributed to Taylor being able to avoid getting caught on the ropes or in corners for lengthy periods.

 

In round seven, Taylor would widen his advantage by scoring his second knockdown of the fight with a short left uppercut coming out of a clinch. While this occurred shortly after Referee Kenny Bayless called for separation, the punch did not occur on the break and was a legal blow that put Ramirez down for a second time. Although this knockdown appeared to my eyes to indicate that Ramirez was in trouble, he was able to pull himself together and survive the round. While some may however, question why the uppercut was a legal punch, it is as elementary a command as exists in Boxing, “Protect yourself at all times.” A slight opening by Ramirez who had put his guard down for only a moment, was all that Taylor needed to take advantage.

 

By this point in the fight, I felt Taylor was comfortably ahead based largely on having two 10-8 rounds scored in his favor due to the knockdowns in rounds six and seven. In terms of points, two 10-8 rounds is equal to four rounds scored by a margin of 10-9 that does not have knockdowns. Based on this as well as my feeling that Taylor got the better of the action in the first two rounds, I felt he had a lead on the scorecards. Ramirez’ best rounds of the fight in my view were rounds three through five where he was able to land the harder punches of the two in part due to the periodic offense he was able to land to Taylor’s body.

 

From rounds eight through twelve, the fight appeared to resemble what this observer felt would be the case going in, a closely fought battle where the ebb and flow would turn frequently. Even though Ramirez managed to put together a late rally in the latter stages of the fight, the two knockdowns against him ultimately proved to be the difference as all three judges turned in identical scores of 114-112 in favor of Josh Taylor making him the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight champion of the world. Shortly after the decision was announced, I commented on social media that it was my view that I could not see how the official scoring could be as narrow as it was based largely on the two knockdown rounds in rounds six and seven.

 

While this was a moot point as I did agree with the judges in terms of who they had winning this fight, unofficially, I had Taylor winning by a slightly wider margin 116-110  based not only on the knockdowns, but the overall success has was able to have over the first half of the fight. The questions regarding the scoring aside, what should not be overlooked is after the fight rather than hearing grievances, both fighters embraced and showed each other the respect they both deserve after taking part in what was a competitive fight, but one where one fighter simply had a better night than the other.

 

Although it is not out of the realm of possibility that Taylor and Ramirez could meet again in the ring down the road, an interesting possibility that now exists for Taylor could be an encounter with undefeated WBO Welterweight world champion Terence Crawford, the man who previously unified the Jr. Welterweight division before moving up in weight. Obviously, there are two things to consider here in regard to a potential Crawford-Taylor showdown. Firstly, having accomplished what Crawford had down previously, will Taylor be willing to relinquish his undisputed championship to challenge him for his world championship in the 147lb. Welterweight division. Would there be a possibility of the two fighters meeting in between where perhaps both their world championships would be at stake, a rarity that is even more rare than an undisputed world championship bout. 

 

The second thing to consider if Josh Taylor is intent on staying at 140lbs. is usually after a weight class is fully unified, Boxing’s respectful sanctioning organizations normal have mandatory title dense obligations lined up on a rotating annual basis. It will be interesting to see if one such mandatory defense whether it be against the top contender in the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), the International Boxing Federation (IBF), and World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) respective ratings would take place before a potential showdown with Crawford.

 

After emerging as a unified world champion in winning the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Jr. Welterweight tournament in 2019, and successfully unifying the Jr. Welterweight championship of the world to become an undisputed world champion by defeating Jose Ramirez, the sky may indeed be the limit for Josh Taylor. No matter what he does next, lucrative opportunities are surely to follow.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

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Ramirez-Taylor: The Undisputed Jr. Welterweight Championship Of The World

 

All too often in the sport of Boxing, the politics of the sport for better or worse depending on one’s perspective tend to stand in the way of progress. The world “Progress” more often than not in Boxing usually means the pursuit for fighters to become not just a world champion, but to achieve what is a difficult goal, to become the one and only world champion in a weight division. To become “Undisputed.”

 

Due largely to the aforementioned element of politics that surround the sport, a world champion becoming truly “Undisputed” is rare. Perhaps more of a rarity is when an undisputed champion vacates their crown to seek accolades in a different weight class, where the reunification process of the crown they leave behind takes place in a relatively short period of time. The 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division is experiencing one such occurrence. Following undefeated undisputed world champion Terence Crawford successfully unifying the division in August 2017 with a third round knockout of IBF world champion Julius Indongo, Crawford immediately vacated the crown to set his sights on the 147lb. Welterweight division, where in his next fight, he knocked out WBO world champion Jeff Horn in June 2018.

 

For the Jr. Welterweights, Crawford’s exit created opportunities for fighters to compete for vacant world championships and the reunification process began. On this relatively brief journey, the Boxing world was treated to a memorable unification battle featuring Undefeated WBC champion Jose Ramirez successfully unifying his world championship by scoring a knockout of previously unbeaten WBO world champion Maurice Hooker in 2019. 

 

Undefeated  Josh Taylor, who spent the years of 2018 and 2019 competing in the highly-acclaimed World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) emerged out of that tournament, the second season of the WBSS concept, which featured tournaments in both the Jr. Welterweight division and the 118 Bantamweight division, as a unified world champion in his own right having won the IBF world championship and then successfully unifying it by scoring a twelve round majority decision over previously unbeaten WBA world champion Regis Prograis in the tournament final in October 2019. While this reunification process was largely streamlined by the WBSS concept, it was halted by the ongoing COVID-19 global epidemic that began in 2019 and unfortunately continues throughout the world in present day.

 

As much of the world including all of sports was brought to a halt for significant stretches throughout 2020, hopes for a quick undisputed championship fight between Ramirez and Taylor was obviously delayed. As the sport of Boxing began attempting to resume activity under the circumstances of COVID-19, both world champions were able to resume their respective careers. Ramirez returned to action in August of last year with a twelve round majority decision victory over former WBC Jr. Welterweight world champion Viktor Postol. In what was a close fight, Ramirez’ harder punches and general activity allowed him to retain his crown.

 

Taylor meanwhile, returned to the ring one month later and scored a first round knockout of Apinun Khongsong. A bout which Taylor ended with a left hook to the body.  All off this including one title defense each for both world champions has finally culminated in the eventual showdown as Ramirez and Taylor will meet on Saturday, May 22^nd at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV to determine the Undisputed Jr. Welterweight championship of the world.

 

The fight, which will be broadcast in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+as well as simulcast on the main ESPN network on cable and satellite, is frankly one of the better bouts that could be made in the sport. An evenly matched battle between two boxer/punchers who each have the ability to end a fight quickly as well as implement a Boxing strategy to win a fight on the scorecards.

 

In thinking of how this bout could be fought, the scenario came to my mind that this could be a tactical battle where the ebb and flow might shift several times throughout. This is due to both fighters similarities as boxer/punchers and each having the ability to change tactics as a fight progresses. While Ramirez, who will enter the fight with a record of 26-0, with 17 Knockouts has boxed thirty six more total rounds in his career compiling 127 total rounds compared to Taylor who has boxed 91 total rounds, and has an overall experience edge having fought nine more bouts than Taylor, who will enter the fight with a record of 17-0, with 13 Knockouts, stylistically, this appears at least on paper to be an even fight.

 

 If one were to look at something that could be an edge for Taylor compared to Ramirez experience and overall ring time, it would be in the career knockout percentage category in that Josh Taylor has established a career knockout percentage of nearly 77% compared to Ramirez’ 65%. Although these are simply statistics, what it does indicate is just how even this fight looks even though there are slight edges in favor of each fighter. Of course, as this observer has often said over the years, “Anything can happen at any given time in the sport of Boxing, and that is what makes the sport great.”, if this does evolve into a closely fought battle that it appears might be the case, we might see a fight that not only ends up close in terms of scoring, but to be more specific, one where who wins rounds may be determined by segments in each round assuming both fighters are able to have periods of success.

 

What is even more telling about this fight beyond by all accounts what appears to be a Fight of the Year candidate on paper is for a rare instance, the sport of Boxing and the politics that surround it have allowed a quick reunification process to occur that was only delayed by circumstances of an ongoing global crisis that even the most jaded and cynical critics of the sport will acknowledge was out of everyone’s control at least in terms of the running and day to day business of an individual sport.  If however, Ramirez-Taylor ends up being a memorable battle and is such that it demonstrates to not only promoters, but fighters, the respective sanctioning organizations that regulate and sanction world championship bouts, and competing television/streaming networks as to the benefits of unification to determine one world champion per weight class, it could be summed up with one simple word. “Progress.”

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Ramirez vs. Taylor takes place on Saturday, May 22^nd at the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. In the United States, the card can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 4:45PM ET/1:45PM PT. The main portion of the card, which will feature the Ramirez-Taylor main event will be simulcast on the main ESPN network across cable and satellite providers beginning at 8:30PM ET/5:30PM PT. (U.S. Times,) For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, lists of compatible streaming devices, and to subscribe please visit: https://plus.espn.com. 

 

Outside of the United States, the card can be seen globally on digital combat sports streaming network FITEon a pay-per-view basis for £12.99. For more information about about how to order please visit: https://www.fite.tv/watch/top-rank-ramirez-vs-taylor/2p9bp/. (While FITE is also available in the United States, this event will only be available through FITE internationally.) Check your local listings for start times internationally.

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison