Naoya Inoue, the Japanese boxing star, is one of the best fighters in the world having fought in America three times and in the U.K. once.
The man nicknamed ‘The Monster’, who is the undisputed junior featherweight world champion holding all four widely recognized world titles, returns to Japan on Tuesday, May 6. He will face Luis Nery from the Tokyo Dome, a venue that has a capacity of 55,000.
Former two-time welterweight world champion Shawn Porter, stated on ProBox TV that Inoue should fight in the United States to elevate his profile among boxing fans in North America, despite being a two-division undisputed champion, and multi-weight champion.
“We really don’t know what Inoue’s goals are, are his goals to be the star of boxing?” questioned Porter on ProBox TV. “If his goal is to be the star in boxing, you got to come to the United States.”
The sentiment is simple, for Inoue, 26-0 (23 KOs), 31, to be viewed as a global star, he needs a higher profile in North America, or at least to fight in the U.S. more often – that is Porter’s perspective. Inoue is regarded as one of the best fighters in the world – if not the best – but is doing it without catering to the American public.
Porter’s divisive comments didn’t fall on deaf ears as Inoue took to social media to respond.
“In response to the comment saying [Inoue] should come to America and play a match,” Inoue stated in Japanese, “The home of the lightweight division [lower weight divisions] is now here in Japan. If you want to see the game, come to Japan. If there is something better than what is available in the Japanese market in America, I would be happy to go.”
Inoue's upcoming bout against Nery, 35-1 (27 KOs), 29, speaks to his celebrity in Japan and Asia as he will fill a major arena. Inoue is unapologetic in his approach. A notable bout took place at the Tokyo Dome which saw James ‘Buster’ Douglas’ upset Mike Tyson in 1990.
Now, Inoue looks to further his star by filling the Dome and showing that he can continue to make a sizable dent in the boxing marketplace without being in the United States.
