Naoya Inoue delivered a tactical masterclass against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, earning a unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 118-110). You’ll notice “The Monster” dominated with precise counterattacks and devastating body work, landing 43% of power punches and 74 body shots. While Akhmadaliev showed early promise, Inoue’s superior footwork and adaptability gradually dismantled his opponent’s defenses. Round six proved pivotal with a crushing liver shot that changed the fight’s trajectory entirely.
Naoya Inoue’s Tactical Masterclass
Naoya Inoue showed why he is called “The Monster” by carefully taking apart Murodjon Akhmadaliev from the first bell. His performance was a mix of technical accuracy and devastating power, as he methodically broke down his opponent’s defenses throughout the fight.
You could see Inoue’s tactical masterclass happen in real time, as he timed Akhmadaliev’s entries perfectly and countered with lightning-fast combinations. His footwork was amazing; he kept the right distance and never let his opponent get into a rhythm.
What impressed most was Inoue’s adaptability. When Akhmadaliev attempted mid-fight adjustments, Inoue immediately recalibrated his approach. This strategy, which was like chess, showed not only his physical gifts but also his superior fight IQ, making him the pound-for-pound king of boxing.
Key Moments That Shaped The Fight
The tactical story came out as the fight went on, with each round adding a new chapter to the Inoue-Akhmadaliev story. In the first few rounds, Akhmadaliev surprised both judges and fans by being willing to trade blows. In round two, he hit Inoue with a sharp left hook.
In rounds three and four, Inoue made great adjustments, setting up his jab and finding angles that stopped Akhmadaliev’s attacks. In round six, Inoue hit the Uzbek fighter in the liver with a powerful shot that was clearly painful for him. It was the fight’s turning point.
Inoue showed off all of his skills in the championship rounds as he pushed forward with carefully planned aggression. The round-by-round breakdown showed that Akhmadaliev had some good moments, but Inoue’s accuracy and power ultimately determined how the fight went.
The Numbers Behind Inoue’s Victory
The judges all agreed that Inoue won by a wide margin over Akhmadaliev, with scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 118-110 showing how much better the Japanese fighter was. These official scores showed that Inoue was in charge the whole time, especially in the middle rounds when he landed 43% of his power punches compared to Akhmadaliev’s 31%.
The judges’ decisions were in line with the punch stats, which showed that Inoue landed 187 punches and Akhmadaliev landed 152. Inoue’s body work was the most telling; he landed 74 punches to the midsection, which clearly slowed his opponent down after round six.
While some ringside analysts debated whether the widest scorecard overrepresented the gap between fighters, few questioned the ultimate verdict given to Inoue’s clear advantage in clean, effective striking.
Akhmadaliev’s Game Plan and Where It Fell Short
Despite entering the ring with a carefully constructed strategy, Murodjon Akhmadaliev’s game plan unraveled against Inoue’s relentless pressure and adaptability. The Uzbek fighter initially aimed to establish distance with his jab and lateral movement, hoping to neutralize Inoue’s power shots.
You could see Akhmadaliev’s plan working briefly in the early rounds as he landed several clean counters. However, his strategy crumbled once Inoue adjusted his timing and cut off the ring more effectively. The momentum shifted dramatically in the middle rounds when Akhmadaliev couldn’t maintain his defensive positioning under Inoue’s varied attacks.
Most critically, Akhmadaliev’s game plan lacked contingencies. When his primary approach failed, he had no effective backup strategy, leaving him increasingly vulnerable to Inoue’s pinpoint combinations and devastating body work.
Inoue’s Undisputed Status and Potential Future Matchups
Naoya “Monster” Inoue has firmly established himself as the king of the super bantamweight division by winning all four major belts at the same time. This historic win puts him in a small group of boxers who have won all of their weight classes.
The Japanese superstar has some interesting possible future matchups coming up. Inoue could go after glory in another weight class if he fights WBA featherweight champion Luis Alberto Lopez. On the other hand, new challengers like Sam Goodman and Junto Nakatani are making things harder in the division.
You’ll likely see Inoue return to the ring by year’s end, with his team carefully selecting opponents who can test the Monster while maximizing his growing global appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Did Each Fighter Earn for the Inoue-Akhmadaliev Bout?
It looks like Inoue made between $2 and $3 million, while Akhmadaliev probably made between $500,000 and $1 million. However, there were no official numbers released.
Did Either Fighter Break Any Boxing Records in This Match?
While Inoue continued his impressive championship run, neither fighter achieved any statistical milestones or broke existing records during their super bantamweight bout.
How Did Japanese Media Coverage Compare to International Broadcasting?
Japanese media gave a lot of local coverage that included cultural context, while international broadcasts focused more on the technical parts and Inoue’s pound-for-pound ranking. Japanese media gave more information about the fighters’ backgrounds.