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5 boxers bound for boxing’s pound-for-pound list soon

By Jeremy Herriges

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: George Groves of England and Chris Eubank JR of England exchange blows during their WBSS Super Middleweight bout at the Manchester Arena on February 17, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 17: George Groves of England and Chris Eubank JR of England exchange blows during their WBSS Super Middleweight bout at the Manchester Arena on February 17, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson/Getty Images) /
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Naoya Inoue
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – DECEMBER 30: Naoya Inoue of Japan (L) punches Yoan Boyeaux (R) of France during their WBO Super Flyweight Title Bout at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium on December 30, 2017 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images) /

1. Naoya Inoue (15-0, 13 KOs)

Naoya Inoue is a young boxer with tremendous talent. He is only 24 years old, but he has defended a major world title 10 times during his 15-fight career. This is a strange and misleading stat, but it’s a fact.

Inoue won his first major world title in only his sixth professional bout. He won the WBC world light flyweight title in 2014 by stopping Adrian Hernandez in the sixth round. Winning any major world boxing title is impressive, but it is easier to accomplish at the lightest weight divisions.

There aren’t many top-level boxers that are able to maintain a career weighing 115 pounds or under. Most light boxers continue to move up in weight. The talent field is limited when boxers are this light.

Inoue had a decent amateur career, but it wasn’t stellar. He had a lot of national success in Japan but never won a major international amateur title.

Inoue is moving up in weight to challenge Jamie McDonnell for his WBA bantamweight title on May 25. Inoue is known for his knockout power. He has an 87 percent KO rating, but he has never fought in the bantamweight division. His performance against McDonnell will show how well his power holds up at a heavier division.

Inoue’s power should still be dangerous as a bantamweight. Only three pounds separate the super flyweight division from the bantamweight division.

McDonnell is arguably the best bantamweight, so if Inoue beats him then he controls the division. Inoue is smart for moving up in weight. He can have a lot of success as a bantamweight. Inoue also avoids fighting Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in the process.

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Sor Rungvisai soared up pound-for-pound lists after beating Roman Gonzalez twice in 2017. There is room in the pound-for-pound rankings for both Inoue and Sor Rungvisai if they are in different divisions. But if they both settle in the same division, then they will have to fight and one of them has to go. Right now, it doesn’t look like that will happen.

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