Latest news with #Akhmadaliev
The Mainichi
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Boxing: Japan's Inoue braces for 'strongest opponent' Akhmadaliev in Nagoya
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan will take on WBA interim champ Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan during a boxing world title tripleheader in September at Nagoya's IG Arena, the organizers of the bout announced Thursday. The Sept. 14 clash will be Inoue's fifth title defense as the division's undisputed champ and first since his eighth-round technical knockout of American Ramon Cardenas on May 4 in Las Vegas. "He's the strongest opponent I'm facing in my career," Inoue, known by the nickname "Monster," said of Akhmadaliev during a press conference in Tokyo. "I'll be gearing up with vigilance, staying on my guard." Known for his high technical and physical abilities, Akhmadaliev shares the same trainer as Cardenas and will come in determined to end Inoue's perfect record, currently 30-0 with 27 knockout wins. "It's okay to win by a decision this time," the 32-year-old Inoue said. "I think Naoya Inoue is at his strongest when he says something like that, but I'll fight cautiously." Akhmadaliev, 30, is 14-1 in his career with 11 KO wins. Other cards on the day will see WBO bantamweight champ Yoshiki Takei of Japan, 11-0 in his career, making his third title defense against Christian Medina Jimenez of Mexico. Japanese boxers Yuni Takada and Ryusei Matsumoto will also square off for the WBA minimumweight belt.
France 24
10-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
'Monster' Inoue to face Akhmadaliev in Japan
The unbeaten Inoue stopped American Ramon Cardenas in the eighth round in Las Vegas in his previous bout -- the first time the boxer known as "Monster" had fought outside Japan in four years. The 32-year-old returns to his home country to take on Akhmadaliev, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and held the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight world titles between 2020 and 2023. Inoue, who has a 30-0 record with 27 knockouts, told reporters in Tokyo that he wanted to "pay attention to all my skills" in preparing for the fight. "I want to train with a high level of vigilance," he said. Inoue was knocked down for only the second time in his career against Cardenas, taking a left hook from the heavy underdog in the second round. He climbed off the canvas to stop Cardenas 45 seconds into the eighth round after a flurry of powerhouse punches. It was Inoue's fourth title defence since becoming undisputed super-bantamweight champion and his second of the year after knocking out South Korea's Kim Ye-joon in the fourth round in Tokyo in January.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Naoya Inoue books return to Las Vegas and Tokyo for 2025 undisputed title defenses
Naoya Inoue has back-to-back fight dates. The Japanese megastar has agreed on deals to defend his undisputed super bantamweight title in May and September against Ramon Cardenas and Murodjon Akhmadaliev, respectively. Uncrowned's Keith Idec was first with the news. Promoters have agreed for Naoya Inoue to fight Murodjon Akhmadaliev on 9/14 in Tokyo if Inoue beats Ramon Cardenas on 5/4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. WBA could have stripped Inoue if they didn't strike a deal on step-aside $ and Akhmadaliev's purse. Story soon @ringmagazine. — Keith Idec (@Idecboxing) March 6, 2025 Inoue vs. Cardenas will headline a show promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank on ESPN on Sunday, May 4, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The show concludes a bumper week of boxing that also includes a triple-header of fights from Times Square featuring Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez on May 2, and Canelo Alvarez's undisputed super middleweight title bout with William Scull in Riyadh on May 3. Should Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs), Uncrowned's No. 3 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, beat Cardenas in May, he will then defend his undisputed championship against Akhmadaliev on an Ohashi Promotions bill on Sept. 14 in Tokyo. Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) is ranked No. 2 with the WBA. He has won fourteen fights in a row since his lone career defeat to Danny Flores in 2017. The San Antonio native, like Inoue, has already fought once in 2025, winning a unanimous decision over the previously undefeated Bryan Acosta. Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) is the WBA's interim champion and designated mandatory challenger. The Uzbek boxer previously held the unified title in the weight class until he was upset by Marlon Tapales in 2023. Akhmadaliev worked his way back up to the mandatory position and claimed the interim strap in December, knocking out Ricardo Espinoza in the third round. Inoue, a two-division undisputed champion, successfully defended his belts in January against late-replacement opponent Ye Joon Kim. He hopes to fight four times in 2025, and should he beat Cardenas and Akhmadaliev in May and September, he could cap off the year in Riyadh in December potentially against Junto Nakatani or Nick Ball.
