Frequently while witnessing boxers attempting to defeat, or more often than not, simply endure Naoya Inoue in Japan, you are shielded from experiencing every blow that is thrown. However, it is impossible not to empathize with the opponent who inevitably bears the brunt of these punches.
Naturally, there exist larger boxers with more powerful punches. However, Inoue possesses an intensity and ferocity that sets him apart, making him even more intimidating than his counterparts. Despite his small stature, weighing only 122 pounds and standing at 5’5″, the devastation Inoue is capable of and the enthusiasm with which he carries out his attacks make him a truly frightening force to witness, as he undoubtedly is to his opponents.
It goes beyond fear alone. The thought of enduring a punch from the Japanese star, whether to the face or body, is undeniably terrifying. But equally frightening is the anticipation and effort required to evade these punches. Should one fight back aggressively, sacrificing oneself in a kamikaze-like manner, as if seeking mercy? Or should self-preservation always be the priority? Is it better to flee from Inoue, even if it means facing criticism from those observing at home, because that outcome seems more favorable than enduring punishment and being knocked out?
Ask Liverpool’s Paul Butler, who lasted almost 11 rounds with Inoue in 2022, and he still doesn’t know the right answer. To see round 11 in the presence of Inoue is no mean feat, that goes without saying, and yet still you would be hard pressed to find anybody who thought Butler won one of those 11 rounds, or indeed anyone who would choose to watch that particular bantamweight fight again. Even Butler, if asked to do it again, wouldn’t know how to do things differently. Even Butler isn’t sure how to judge his own performance 16 months on.
The former IBF bantamweight belt-holder expressed mixed emotions about the match, stating, “Part of me felt proud for lasting that many rounds with him, but deep down, I regret not being more aggressive with my punches. However, I knew that if I had unleashed more, he might have knocked me out early. It’s the unexpected shots that cause the most harm, and he has exceptional timing. If I had gone all out from the beginning, he could have possibly defeated me within just three or four rounds.”
The original statement can be rewritten as follows:
Our initial strategy was to observe him for four or five rounds due to his tightness at the weight, and then assess his stamina in the second half. However, instead of countering much, I found myself constantly catching up to him. It was only around round six or seven, maybe even eight, that I started to gain some momentum. But then he completely changed his approach. He began putting his hands behind his back, dropping them to his knees, as if trying to provoke a reaction from me. However, I am too experienced to fall for such tactics. I have encountered similar strategies when training with young boxers in the gym. He won’t be able to catch me off guard with those tricks.
Naoki Fukuda captures the moment when Inoue successfully connects a right punch on Butler in Tokyo.
It was an unusual experience to watch Butler fight Inoue in December 2022. Despite being gradually worn down and overwhelmed, Butler displayed impressive agility, skill, and strategic thinking, which are essential qualities for anyone attempting to defeat Inoue, who had a record of 26-0 (23). However, Butler struggled to follow through with his plan and take the necessary actions to succeed. While he moved well, defended himself effectively, and strategically positioned himself for counterattacks, he lacked the composure needed to make bold decisions and deliver decisive blows, which ultimately hindered his chances of victory.
“His power was very, very good, as everyone knows,” said Butler, “but when he hit me on the chin it was surprising. I don’t know why it was surprising. Maybe because for 12 weeks building up to the fight I had been thinking, Wow, he must hit really hard, him. I was watching sparring clips of him and seeing him put people away and I’m thinking, Wow, imagine what he’s like in eight-ounce gloves.
“But when he did hit me… listen, they were hard and they were powerful, but I didn’t feel like he had shaken me to my boots or hit me quite as hard as I had expected.
“When he did shake me to my boots it wasn’t until the eighth round. At the end of the round, I got back to the corner, and I can’t remember to this day what Joe (Gallagher, trainer) told me between those two rounds, the eighth and ninth. I just remember standing up to go out for round nine and my legs still feeling like they weren’t underneath me.”
However, it wasn’t the initial instance that Butler had experienced a sense of unease in Tokyo that night. Throughout the entire evening preceding the fight, there had been a lingering feeling of discomfort surrounding the challenger. This sensation was further intensified by the actions of those in charge, who seemed determined to manipulate and dominate Butler. It was a classic case of turning the tables, as the hosts abruptly shifted their allegiance and targeted Butler just when he, as a boxer, was at his weakest and required support the most.
“They really looked after us at first,” he said. “They sorted out our hotels, our food, anything we wanted, and then on fight day – bang! Totally different. I was like, Who are these people? We’ve been dealing with them all week and they were fine. What have they turned into?
“It sort of flipped on its head. They were coming into the changing room and saying, ‘You’re going out in five minutes,’ and I hadn’t even got my gloves on yet. We were just like, ‘No, that’s not happening. You can’t fight without us. Get out and leave us alone.’
After I had finished putting on my gloves, they insisted that I remove the tape because they wanted to remove a small drawstring on the gloves. Initially, I struggled to even fit my hands into the gloves, so we decided to apply some Vaseline on my wraps to help them slide in more easily. However, their reaction was extreme when they noticed this. They assumed I was applying some suspicious substance on my hands. I reassured them, explaining that it was just Vaseline and that I used it solely to facilitate the process of putting on the gloves. Despite this, they brought in an official, and we had to clarify the situation to them as well.
And that was just before the fight.
“After the fight,” Butler continued, “they wanted me to do a drug test while extremely dehydrated. I’ll do the drug test, of course, I’m not bothered about all that, but I’m obviously dry straight after a long fight like that. I’m drinking all these bottles of water and they’re just standing there going, ‘Faster! Faster! We want to go home!’ I’m just there thinking, Wow, here I am with a banging headache and feeling sick and they’re saying this to me. I was laying down on the floor at the time and Joe is looking for some paracetamol for me because my head is absolutely killing me. They were just going, ‘No, no, no. You’re not taking anything.’ Anyway, after about two hours I’ve gone to toilet and by the time I got on the bus I threw up everywhere. I threw up all the water they had forced me to drink.
“If I’m being honest, I understand why Inoue chooses to remain in Japan. Once the fight day arrives, the atmosphere completely transforms, making him feel like he has complete control over everything. Many others might accept this treatment and consider it a victory for Inoue’s team, but Joe refused to accept it.”
In the photograph, Naoya Inoue is seen alongside his upcoming challenger, Luis Nery from Mexico. (Photo credit: STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)
Mexico’s Luis Nery is set to be the next fighter to face the Tokyo treatment before his match against Inoue for the super-bantamweight belts on May 6 at the Tokyo Dome. Similar to previous opponents like Butler, Nery will likely have no prior understanding of what it’s like to fight Inoue and feel inferior until he experiences it himself. Butler confidently predicts that Inoue will defeat Nery, citing his accuracy and ability to handle southpaws. Butler believes that Inoue will likely overpower Nery by either the seventh or eighth round.
Regarding the remaining individuals, they should not raise their expectations either. Butler suggests that only Inoue’s own greed, or possibly the greed of others, will eventually tarnish his flawless professional record.
Butler, with a record of 36-3 (17), expressed his belief that the only factor capable of defeating Inoue is similar to what caused Lomachenko’s downfall: size. He acknowledges that Lomachenko’s loss in his second fight against Orlando Salido could be attributed to inexperience, and some argue that Lomachenko actually won that fight. However, in the end, it was Lomachenko’s decision to move up in weight classes that ultimately affected him. This change in size played a significant role as opponents no longer felt his power and could physically dominate him at close range.
In my opinion, I believe Inoue will excel in the featherweight division, but I don’t think he should move up any further. Inoue is a smart boxer, which is why he currently competes in the super-bantamweight category. He will explore his options and assess the opportunities available to him. However, at present, I consider Inoue to be at the top. When considering his hand speed, chin, movement, and power, he is very close to being the ideal boxer.
