Do you think Inoue can unify 126lbs?

[HuskySamoan]

Of course next for Inoue is Junto Nakatani and after Juntos performance this past weekend I feel most of us are already looking past this fight. Once Inoue fights Nakatani (assuming he wins) there really is absolutely no business left for him or his legacy at 122lbs UNLESS Bam Rodriguez ends up wanting to take on the challenge, which I don't think is realistic right now unless Saudi money sways him.

That said at 126 Inoue has said in the past its his absolute limit and hed like to unify Featherweight as his 3rd division before retiring. Most people seem confident Inoue can/will beat Nick Ball and I personally think Angelo Leo is very manageable for The Monster, but what about Rafael Espinoza or Bruce Carrington? (assuming Carrington claims the WBC world title on the Teo vs Shakur card) these guys are way bigger than Inoue, in their primes and skilled undefeated champions. We've seem Inoues power get noticeably less devastating at 122, and recently when asked about Featherweight Inoue has seemed a little less certain thats still the plan.

Do you guys think its realistic Inoue can unify 126? Even likely he will try? How do you see the rest of his career playing out, hes said in the past he doesnt want to stay in beyond the end of 2027 and once he feels a decline he wants to call it.

 

[Tatra]

Nick Ball would be a fantastic fight, total action from start to finish. I'd give the edge to Inoue, via decision.

 

[Blastbeat]

to be honest, every time i have doubts about Inoue he exceeds my expectations. i think he could definitely unify at 126 if he wanted to. since his power isnt as devastating at 122 i cant imagine itll be much better at 126, but he's proven himself to be a sharp boxer that can lean on sticking and moving if he has to. so he might just UD everyone up there. although i think Carrington would be his toughest fight.

also seconding Tatra's sentiment; Inoue vs Ball would be pure violence. would love to see that one

 

[JoeBobbaLou2]

he hasn't missed a beat. this kid is on fire

 

[baconCrunch]

carrington’s big mouth has somehow included him in this conversation. he’s not young, and has yet to fight anyone high level. inoue was asked about him, and he said he said he had no idea who he was. beating this guy does nothing for the monster.

i think turki will front the money for bam x inoue. inoue can generate ppv because he has an entire country to back him. but they maybe have to put bam on the junto x monster undercard first.

if for some reason bam refuses, then i think ball is next. neither espinoza nor leo have the same pull.

those are ideally his last 3 fights.

 

[HuskySamoan]

carrington’s big mouth has somehow included him in this conversation. he’s not young, and has yet to fight anyone high level. inoue was asked about him, and he said he said he had no idea who he was. beating this guy does nothing for the monster.

i think turki will front the money for bam x inoue. inoue can generate ppv because he has an entire country to back him. but they maybe have to put bam on the junto x monster undercard first.

if for some reason bam refuses, then i think ball is next. neither espinoza nor leo have the same pull.

those are ideally his last 3 fights.

Carrington is in the conversation because hes the Interim WBC title holder and is fighting Carlos Castro on the 31st for the WBC world title since Fulton let it go moving up. Beyond that, stylistically its a very compelling fight for Inoue and another undefeated resume to add to his legacy if he beats Carrington. I also think Carrington and Espinoza are clearly tougher challenges than Leo and Ball.

If Inoue moves up to 126 and fights Ball (the easiest W of the title holders) and then retires I'd he a little disappointed. That's leaving a lot on the table not wanting to unify a 3rd division to tie the record. But at the same time, if the Bam fight can actually get made he may not really need to unify a 3rd division.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

I think that he can unify FW but it'll be more challenging for him, at least physically, which he appears to realize himself. Right now he'd be favored to beat all of the champs up there.

 

[HuskySamoan]

I think that he can unify FW but it'll be more challenging for him, at least physically, which he appears to realize himself. Right now he'd be favored to beat all of the champs up there.

Realistically I think it'll go like this, he fights Junto first half of 2026, they try/see if the Bam fight can get made, if not, he likely moves to 126 late 2026 to fight Leo or Ball to see how his body and his skillset acclimates to Featherweight and they go from there, if the Bam fight gets made second half of 2026, you carry over the Ball/Leo type 126lb debut fight to early 2027 and then they go from there. If he struggles with those guys a ton, gets hurt, cant get their respect the same way with his shots etc. I think tackling the range, size and skillsets of Espinoza and Carrington become a real red flag.

We will see, I think Featherweight is a deeper talent pool than Bantam and Super Bantamweight ontop of everything else.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

Realistically I think it'll go like this, he fights Junto first half of 2026, they try/see if the Bam fight can get made, if not, he likely moves to 126 late 2026 to fight Leo or Ball to see how his body and his skillset acclimates to Featherweight and they go from there, if the Bam fight gets made second half of 2026, you carry over the Ball/Leo type 126lb debut fight to early 2027 and then they go from there. If he struggles with those guys a ton, gets hurt, cant get their respect the same way with his shots etc. I think tackling the range, size and skillsets if Espinoza and Carrington become a real red flag.

We will see, I think Featherweight is a deeper talent pool than Bantam and Super Bantamweight ontop of everything else.

It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out. FW is a deeper pool.