History of Naoya Inoue in Timeline
"Monster" Naoya Inoue is a Japanese professional boxer celebrated for his incredible punching power, boasting an 88.88% knockout-to-win ratio and a 90.90% KO rate in world title bouts. He has clinched multiple world championships across four weight divisions, placing him among an elite group of three male boxers to achieve undisputed champion status in two weight classes during the "four-belt era."
1972: Enrique Pinder Becomes Undisputed Bantamweight Champion
In 1972, Enrique Pinder became the last undisputed bantamweight champion before Naoya Inoue accomplished the feat in 2022.
April 1993: Birth
Naoya Inoue was born in April 1993.
2002: Narváez's Championship Reign
Omar Andrés Narváez won his first world championship in 2002 and made twenty-seven title defenses over 14 years.
2009: Japanese Championships
Naoya Inoue won the Japanese Interscholastic Athletic Meeting and the Japanese Junior National Championships in 2009.
March 2010: Asian Youth Championships
The Asian Youth Championships (48 kg) took place in Tehran, Iran, in March 2010.
April 2010: AIBA Youth World Championships
The AIBA Youth World Championships (48 kg) took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in April 2010.
2010: Asian Youth Championships and Japanese Selection Tournament
Naoya Inoue took the bronze medal in the Asian Youth Championships in Tehran, Iran, and won the Japanese Junior Selection Tournament in 2010.
July 2011: President's Cup Gold Medal
In July 2011, Naoya Inoue took the gold medal in the 21st President's Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia.
October 2011: AIBA World Championships
The AIBA World Championships (49 kg) took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, in September-October 2011.
2011: Narváez's Loss to Donaire
Omar Andrés Narváez's only loss at the time of his fight with Naoya Inoue was a decision to Nonito Donaire at bantamweight in 2011.
April 2012: Asian Olympic Qualifier
The Asian Olympic Qualifier (49 kg) took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April 2012.
October 2012: Professional Debut
Naoya Inoue made his professional debut in October 2012, winning by knockout against Filipino national champion Crison Omayao.
2012: Asian Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament
Naoya Inoue lost to Birzhan Zhakypov in the final at the 2012 Asian Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan.
August 2013: Japanese Light Flyweight Champion
In August 2013, Naoya Inoue captured the Japanese light flyweight title from Ryoichi Taguchi, who was ranked third by the WBA.
December 2013: OPBF Light Flyweight Champion
Naoya Inoue won the vacant OPBF light flyweight title in December 2013, defeating Jerson Mancio with a 5th-round TKO.
April 2014: WBC Light Flyweight Champion
In April 2014, Naoya Inoue became the WBC light flyweight champion after defeating Adrián Hernández, a two-division champion.
September 2014: First Light Flyweight Title Defense
Naoya Inoue successfully defended his light flyweight title against Samartlek Kokietgym in September 2014, stopping him in the 11th round.
November 2014: Vacates Light Flyweight Title
Naoya Inoue vacated his light flyweight title in November 2014 to challenge WBO junior bantamweight title-holder Omar Andrés Narváez.
December 2014: WBO Junior Bantamweight Champion
In December 2014, Naoya Inoue knocked out Omar Andrés Narváez in the second round to become the WBO junior bantamweight champion.
2014: McDonnell's WBA Title Reign
Jamie McDonnell won the WBA bantamweight title in 2014 and defended it successfully for several years before facing Inoue.
2014: WBC Light Flyweight Champion
Naoya Inoue held the World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title in 2014.
December 2015: TKO Victory over Warlito Parrenas
In December 2015, Naoya Inoue returned from injury and defeated Warlito Parrenas by TKO in the second round.
May 2016: Unanimous Decision over David Carmona
Naoya Inoue won a unanimous decision against David Carmona in May 2016, despite suffering a hand injury during the fight.
December 2016: Inoue vs Kono
On December 2016, Naoya Inoue successfully defended his WBO junior bantamweight title against Kohei Kono, knocking him out in the sixth round. This marked Kono's first ever loss by stoppage.
2016: Negotiations and Missed Opportunity
In 2016, Inoue sought a unification bout with Gonzalez, but negotiations fell through as Gonzalez opted for a different opponent, believing he would receive a larger payday elsewhere.
2016: Unification Bout Pursuit
Throughout 2016, Inoue actively pursued a unification fight against then WBC super flyweight champion Román González. However, González opted to face Carlos Cuadras instead, a fight Inoue attended. Despite Inoue's team sending a formal offer, González declined, deeming the terms unsatisfactory.
March 2017: Gonzalez vs Rungvisai I
Román González lost his WBC super flyweight title to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in March 2017, derailing potential unification plans with Inoue.
May 2017: Inoue vs Rodríguez
In May 2017, Inoue defended his WBO title against Ricardo Rodríguez, securing a dominant third-round TKO victory.
September 2017: Inoue's US Debut
In September 2017, Inoue made his US debut on the "Superfly" card, facing Antonio Nieves. The event, headlined by the González-Sor Rungvisai rematch, had a potential Inoue-Gonzalez unification bout contingent on Gonzalez's victory. However, Gonzalez's loss to Rungvisai derailed those plans. Inoue ultimately secured a sixth-round TKO victory over Nieves.
September 2017: Inoue and Gonzalez on the Same Card
Inoue and Gonzalez fought on the same card in September 2017, with Inoue winning his US debut and aiming for a future Gonzalez fight. However, Gonzalez's knockout loss to Rungvisai in their rematch ended those possibilities.
December 2017: Inoue vs Boyeaux
On December 2017, Naoya Inoue successfully defended his WBO junior bantamweight title for the seventh time, defeating Yan Boyeaux by TKO in the third round. Despite plans for a unification bout against WBA champion Kal Yafai in the US, the fight fell through, prompting Inoue's decision to move up to bantamweight.
February 2018: Negotiations for McDonnell Fight
Negotiations for a fight between Inoue and WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell were reported in February 2018.
May 2018: Inoue vs McDonnell
On May 25th, 2018, Inoue faced Jamie McDonnell for the WBA bantamweight title, securing a first-round TKO victory and claiming his third world title in a different weight class.
October 2018: Rodríguez's Victory
Emmanuel Rodríguez secured a decision victory against Jason Moloney in October 2018, earning him a spot in the World Boxing Super Series semi-final against Inoue.
2018: Fight Hopes Dashed
Hopes for an Inoue-Gonzalez fight were dashed in 2018 after Gonzalez's knockout loss to Rungvisai in their rematch, ending any possibility of the matchup.
2018: End of Junior Bantamweight Reign
Naoya Inoue's reign as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior bantamweight title ended in 2018.
February 2019: Inoue vs Rodríguez Scheduled
In February 2019, the World Boxing Super Series semi-final bout between Inoue and Rodríguez was scheduled for May 18th, 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland.
May 2019: Inoue vs Rodríguez
On May 18th, 2019, Inoue faced Emmanuel Rodríguez in the World Boxing Super Series semi-final, winning by second-round TKO and advancing to the tournament final. The fight also saw Inoue claim the vacant Ring Magazine bantamweight title.
November 2019: Inoue vs. Donaire I
In November 2019, Naoya Inoue faced Nonito Donaire in the World Boxing Super Series final. The fight was a brutal back-and-forth affair, with both men showing incredible heart. Inoue won a unanimous decision after 12 rounds, overcoming a serious cut above his eye in the second round to inflict a heavy knockdown on Donaire in the eleventh.
November 2019: Inoue vs. Donaire I
In November 2019, Naoya Inoue faced Nonito Donaire in the World Boxing Super Series final. The fight was a brutal back-and-forth affair, with both men showing incredible heart. Inoue won a unanimous decision after 12 rounds, overcoming a serious cut above his eye in the second round to inflict a heavy knockdown on Donaire in the eleventh.
2019: World Boxing Super Series Bantamweight Tournament Winner
Naoya Inoue won the 2018-2019 World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament.
April 2020: Inoue vs. Moloney
In April 2020, Naoya Inoue was scheduled to face John Riel Casimero, but the fight was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inoue instead faced Jason Moloney, whom he defeated via seventh-round knockout after scoring two knockdowns.
June 2021: Inoue vs. Dasmariñas
In June 2021, Naoya Inoue faced Michael Dasmariñas, his IBF mandatory challenger. Inoue won the fight via third-round stoppage, scoring three knockdowns in three rounds with left hooks to the body.
October 2021: Inoue vs. Dipaen Announced
In October 2021, it was announced that Naoya Inoue would defend his bantamweight world titles against Aran Dipaen in December.
December 2021: Inoue vs. Dipaen
In December 2021, Naoya Inoue faced Aran Dipaen in a voluntary title defense. Inoue won the fight by eighth-round technical knockout.
June 2022: Inoue vs. Donaire II
In June 2022, Naoya Inoue had a rematch with Nonito Donaire for the WBC bantamweight title. Inoue won the fight by second-round technical knockout, becoming Japan's first-ever three-belt titleholder in boxing history.
August 2022: Inoue vs. Butler Announced
In August 2022, it was announced that Naoya Inoue would face Paul Butler in a title unification bout for the WBO bantamweight title.
December 2022: Inoue vs. Butler
In December 2022, Naoya Inoue faced Paul Butler for the WBO bantamweight title. Inoue won the fight via eleventh-round knockout, becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion.
2022: Undisputed Bantamweight Champion
Naoya Inoue became the undisputed bantamweight champion in 2022, the first since Enrique Pinder in 1972.
January 2023: Inoue Vacates Bantamweight Titles
In January 2023, Naoya Inoue vacated his bantamweight titles to move up to super bantamweight.
January 2023: Inoue vs. Fulton Negotiations
In January 2023, it was revealed that Naoya Inoue had entered into negotiations with Stephen Fulton for a super bantamweight title fight.
May 2023: Inoue vs. Fulton Postponed
In May 2023, the fight between Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton was postponed due to Inoue suffering a fist injury.
July 2023: Inoue vs. Fulton
In July 2023, Naoya Inoue faced Stephen Fulton for the unified super bantamweight title. Inoue won the fight by eighth-round technical knockout, becoming a four-division champion.
August 2023: Negotiations for Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title Bout
In August 2023, Naoya Inoue entered negotiations with Marlon Tapales, the unified WBA (Super) and IBF super bantamweight champion, for an undisputed title fight.
December 2023: Undisputed Super Bantamweight Championship Victory
On December 26, 2023, Naoya Inoue fought Marlon Tapales for the undisputed super bantamweight championship at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. Inoue won by tenth-round knockout, becoming the first-ever undisputed super bantamweight champion and a two-division undisputed champion.
2023: Undisputed Super Bantamweight Champion
In 2023, Naoya Inoue became the undisputed super bantamweight champion, holding all four major titles.
2023: Fighter of the Year
Naoya Inoue was named Fighter of the Year in 2023 by The Ring, BWAA, and ESPN.
January 2024: First Title Defense Announcement
In January 2024, it was announced that Naoya Inoue would defend his undisputed title against WBC mandatory challenger Luis Nery.
May 2024: Ranked World's Second Best Boxer
As of May 2024, Naoya Inoue is ranked as the world's second best active boxer, pound for pound, by several organizations.
May 2024: Successful Title Defense and Return to Number One Ranking
On May 6, 2024, Naoya Inoue faced Luis Nery at Tokyo Dome in his first title defense as undisputed champion. Despite being knocked down for the first time in his professional career, Inoue won by sixth-round knockout and reclaimed the number one pound-for-pound ranking by The Ring.
September 2024: Second Undisputed Title Defense Scheduled
Naoya Inoue is scheduled to defend his undisputed super bantamweight title for the second time against former IBF champion TJ Doheny on September 3, 2024, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.