By Norm Frauenheim –
In a political season, Naoya Inoue’s campaign for supremacy in the pound-for-pound race is gaining momentum for a reason that separates him from everybody else.
He’s busy.
Inoue, tireless inside the ring and outside of it, continues an old-school schedule not seen in decades against TJ Doheny in Tokyo Tuesday.
It’s his third fight since December, his fourth over the last 13 months. Doheny isn’t expected to be much of a challenge. Other than perhaps fellow Japanese fighter Junto Nakatani, who is these days?
The biggest surprise is that you can actually bet on this fight. Five days before opening bell at Ariake Arena (ESPN+, 5:45 a.m. ET), Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) is favored, minus-5000.
In other words, Doheny has a better chance at stopping climate change. Still, the odds aren’t impossible, either. There are no prohibitive favorites, at least not in boxing.
According to the oddsmakers, Doheny has about as much of a chance as Buster Douglas had against Mike Tyson, a 42-1 favorite in 1990, also in Tokyo. Douglas won that one, scoring an upset as stunning as any in history. Anything is possible, especially in boxing, where cheap shots are the only sure thing.
But don’t expect climate to quit changing. History isn’t going to repeat itself. Instead, Japan’s rising son is poised to make some more history of his own in a junior-featherweight fight that promises to further his argument that there’s nobody better.
The 37-year-old Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) an Australian-based fighter and former 122-pound belt-holder, is well known to Japanese fans. His last three fights have been in Tokyo. He’ll be there again Tuesday, this time in a role that figures to showcase Inoue’s dynamic skillset.
The best bet here: Inoue emerges from Tuesday’s fight as the consensus No.1 in the pound-for-pound debate.
A comprehensive stoppage of a durable Doheny, who has never been knocked out, would provide further evidence on a resume uninterrupted by the idle stretches that leave questions about his rivals. These days, world-class fighters fight once or twice between birthdays
Inactivity is hard to judge.
Busy is not.
It’s the busy — an accumulation of timely evidence — that gives Inoue a decisive edge in a three-way race that has included Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk.
It’s been close, almost impossible to call, mostly because all three are the only two division undisputed champs in the game’s four-belt history — Inoue (bantamweight and junior-feather), Crawford (junior-welter and welterweight) and Usyk (cruiser and heavyweight).
On this pound-for-pound list, Crawford has been No. 1 for a couple of years. But, now, there is uncertainty, questions about his last performance in a narrow win at a new weight, 154-pounds, in a decision over Israil Madrimov, a competent belt-holder, yet known more for his amateur accomplishments than his pro career.
There are also questions about what’s next for Crawford, who returned to the ring against Madrimov after more than a year away from the ring in the aftermath of his defining welterweight triumph over Errol Spence.
Quotes from him and his new representative, Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, indicate he’s thinking only Canelo or retirement. He’s been interested in a fight against 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez.
For now, however, there’s been no reported interest from him about a fight at 154 pounds against Vergil Ortiz Jr., or a rematch against a deserving Madrimov.
Crawford won’t know what’s next until after Canelo’s probable victory over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. Canelo hasn’t said he’ll fight Crawford. He hasn’t said he will. Maybe, Crawford gets a definitive answer. Maybe, not.
If Canelo says no, there’s a chance Crawford retires. He’ll be 37 on Sept. 28, an age that would make a bid for a third undisputed title at a third weight problematic against the young lions at junior-middle.
Then, there’s Usyk, the Ukrainian, whose tactical know how and unwavering discipline has kept him unbeaten. But will that stubborn spirit and intelligent skillset continue to?
He faces an intriguing rematch on Dec. 21 in Riyadh of his split decision over Tyson Fury on May 18, his first fight after only one fight in 2023 — a ninth-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois in Poland in August of that year.
It goes without saying that Usyk’s victory over Fury was controversial. By definition, split decisions always are. There were moments when it looked as if Fury would/could win. Maybe with a little bit more discipline and less clowning, he will. By now, it’s safe to say Usyk will keep it close.
For now, however, that’s just another question at a time when Inoue is busy.
Busy delivering all the answers.
