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Eddie Hearn upset over WBA super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue turning away mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev to easier fights against weak opposition that is not a threat to beat him.
Hearn says the World Boxing Association will write to Inoue (29-9, 26 KOs) on Monday to tell him he must defend against Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) next or he will be stripped of his WBA 122- lb. belt
However, Hearn predicts that the 31-year-old Inoue will vacate his WBA title and face his WBC No. 1 contender. Alan David Picassobelow These two are expected to fight in the United States in Las Vegas. Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) is not well known to the American boxing public, but he has fans in his native Mexico who will be excited to see him fight ‘The Monster’ Inoue.
Anticipated vacancy
“Naoya Inoue is running straight out of Murodjon Akhmadaliev. He’s been ordered to fight him twice. He’s had two fights (Ye Joon Kim and TJ Doheny) instead of fighting Akhmadaliev,” Eddie Hearn told talkSport Boxing about Naoya Inoue.
“On Monday, the WBA will write to Naoya Inoue and say, ‘Enough is enough. You have to fight Akhmadaliev or you will be stripped of the WBA title and you will no longer be undisputed.” Watch this now. Naoya Inoue will vacate his WBA world title,” Hearn said.
“Who is Akhmadaliev,” said Gareth A. Davies.
Hearn could also start preparing for the WBA belt to be stripped from Inoue as he is unlikely to fight Akhmadaliev. It’s too dangerous. It will be interesting to see if the WBA chooses to strip Naoya because he is a popular wrestler, which makes their organization look good to hold onto the belt. Replacing him with the lesser known Akhmadaliev is less prestigious for the WBA.
Like Canelo Alvarez, Inoue stopped taking risky fights years ago and is now just playing it safe. Fighting lesser opposition can’t hurt him like Nonito Donaire did in his first fight. Inoue broke his nose and fractured his right orbital bone. Inoue distributes punishment well, but doesn’t take it very well.
