Naoya Inoue Faces Biggest Challenge Against Murodjon Akhmadaliev

Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue faces his biggest challenge to date on Sunday, September 14. 

That's when the 32-year-old, who trains at Yokohama's Ohashi Boxing Gym, defends his WBA, IBF, WBC and WBO titles against Murodjon "MJ" Akhmadaliev at IG Arena in Nagoya.

Inoue brings a perfect record of 30-0 (27 knockouts) into the title bout. Akhmadaliev, 30, from Uzbekistan, has compiled 13 wins — 10 by knockout — against one loss in 14 fights. His sole defeat came by decision in April 2023 in San Antonio, Texas, where Marlon Tapales outpointed him.

At a September 1 press conference, Akhmadaliev addressed that setback. "I had a fractured left wrist that wasn't fully healed, and I was at a disadvantage from the second round," he explained. "The injury definitely affected the outcome."

Weeks earlier, Hideyuki Ohashi, president of Ohashi Gym, made a striking declaration. 

"It's been 13 years since Naoya Inoue's debut, and this will be the strongest and most formidable opponent of his career," Ohashi said at a July 10 press conference. He emphasized that his team would face the fight with collective strength and unity.

Naoya Inoue Outlines Fight Strategy

When asked about his concerns regarding Akhmadaliev, Inoue showed clear respect for his opponent. 

"I want to build my boxing while staying alert to everything he brings to the ring," Inoue said. "He's a fighter with refined technique, physical power and all-around skill."

The champion's approach differs noticeably from previous fights. While Inoue often hinted at knockout finishes before past bouts, his tone remains more measured this time. 

"I think it might be fine if it goes to a decision," he stated. "My mindset is focused on securing the win."

"Monster" Inoue concluded the press conference with a clear strategy outline. He plans to approach the fight carefully, constructing his game plan round by round with unwavering determination.

Akhmadaliev: It's the 'Biggest Fight of My Career' 

On September 1, Akhmadaliev held a public training session at Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama. Before the gathered press, he began with shadowboxing in the ring, followed by mitt work with his trainer in a southpaw stance. Sharp jabs, straights and hook combinations showcased his well-known power.

Naoya Inoue's father and trainer, Shingo Inoue, watched from ringside. Akhmadaliev's right hook left a strong impression on the seasoned trainer. "He seems to have solid power," Shingo noted. Praising Akhmadaliev's technical foundation, he also said, "His balance is excellent. He was a top amateur, so he's just as I imagined."

At the press conference before his training session, Akhmadaliev made his intentions crystal clear. "I came to Japan to defeat Naoya Inoue and to make history." When asked about his advantages over Inoue, he replied without hesitation: "In terms of overall boxing ability, I believe I have the advantage."

The challenger remained secretive about his fight strategy. "There are things my team and I have decided to do — and not do — but I won't reveal them now," he said. "You'll see everything on fight day."

Joel Diaz, the trainer who assisted Ramon Cardenas when the American managed to knock down Inoue in the second round of their May 4 title fight in Las Vegas, has joined Akhmadaliev's corner. Diaz will provide strategic guidance. (Inoue beat Cardenas via an eighth-round technical knockout.)

Getting ready to face Inoue, the latest challenger completed over 100 rounds of sparring in preparation. 

"This will be the biggest fight of my career, and I'm putting in 150 percent," Akhmadaliev declared.

Naoya Inoue Had a Strong Training Camp

On September 2, champion Naoya Inoue held his own public training session at Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama. During the buildup to his bout against Stephen Fulton in July 2023, Inoue had cut his training short after just 30 seconds when Fulton did the same. This time, responding to Akhmadaliev's session the previous day, he delivered a fuller display with both shadowboxing and mitt work.

During mitt work, Inoue unleashed powerful combinations. One-twos, fierce hooks and uppercuts slammed into the mitts held by trainer Kosuke Ota, demonstrating the power that has produced 27 knockouts.

Ohashi expressed complete confidence in Inoue's preparation. "The depth of sparring partners this time — Tapales, [Subaru] Murata from Teiken Gym, [Kenji] Fujita, [Mikito] Nakano and [Riku] Masuda — the quality of the sessions, and how well the sparring went are all the best we've ever seen," he said. "I'm genuinely looking forward to the fight."

Inoue trained at Teiken Gym, which is located in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, as part of his camp. "I feel like I'm approaching this fight with a fresh mindset, as if I've returned to my roots," he said, showing no signs of complacency.

The elder Inoue shared similar sentiments. 

"Once again, we've had the best possible training camp and preparation," Shingo Inoue said. He told reporters they completed 120 rounds of sparring and trained with clear focus areas, resulting in an extremely productive camp.

A Cautious Approach Against Akhmadaliev

Naoya Inoue identified the only truly threatening aspects of Akhmadaliev: "his physical strength and power."

However, he added a tactical note: "No matter how tough a fighter is, if a punch lands clean, it lands. So I don't plan to fight recklessly." This indicates he intends to avoid the overly aggressive approach he took against Cardenas.

Echoing his July press conference comments, Inoue reaffirmed that Akhmadaliev remains "the most formidable opponent I've ever faced."

With that assessment, he approaches this bout with even greater focus than he had against Fulton or Luis Nery, his opponent in May 2024 at Tokyo Dome.

A New Venue for Major Sporting Events

This marks the first professional boxing event at Nagoya's IG Arena, which opened in July 2025. It also represents the first time Naoya Inoue fights outside the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan. All tickets sold out in just 10 minutes, demonstrating the massive public interest.

With the bout set for worldwide broadcast, Inoue heads to Nagoya "with excitement and anticipation." The boxing world watches to see what unfolds in this highly anticipated showdown.

Will Inoue deliver a dramatic knockout in front of invited guest Junto Nakatani, the IBF and WBC bantamweight champ? 

The fight will be shown live on streaming service NTT Lemino.

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Author: Shin Sato