Japan’s Naoya Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs) will face Briton Paul Butler (34-2, 15 KOs) for the absolute champion title in the lightweight category (up to 53.5 kg) on ​​the morning of December 13, Kyiv time. ). Inoue came to the fight she deserved.

What remains is the last step, which is not the most difficult, if not the simplest.

He just understood the Inoue category. The absolute is a well-deserved success

Naoya Inoue and her boxing is just that when there is no doubt about her logic and just the championship and the absolute championship. The man literally skimmed the category and dealt with anyone who went to him easily and without any problems.

Ok, it’s not completely seamless. The Japanese were once captured by a Filipino veteran.

Nonito Donaire faced Inoue in the World Boxing Super Series final. Everyone bet on almost every second victory, but it turned out a little differently. The Filipino not only struggled, but also gave his opponent a real test. He punched in response, hacked himself, and wasn’t afraid of the power of hitting.

To be fair, it’s worth noting that Naoya still looks much better than her opponent. I hit harder, I worked more aggressively, and I definitely won with the refereeing decision I deserved. Compared to other opponents Inoue knocked out within minutes, that was the real rivalry we wanted to see in the ring with the Japanese.

After this fight, Naoya and Donaire went parallel to each other. The Japanese defended their IBF and WBA titles twice, first knocking out Michael Dasmarinhas, then Aran Dipaen. The Filipino, unsurprisingly, did not retire, but came back again – he also knocked out two of his rivals. Moreover, both were undefeated and both fell in the fourth round. Along the way, Donaire became the WBC champion – the perfect moment for the rematch and the simultaneous reunion.

In the second confrontation, Inoue closed any questions that may arise for him. The Japanese literally jumped into the ring, went to fight and began to chop the veteran. Donaire couldn’t resist this time. He began to crumble in the first seconds and literally fell apart in the second round – he fainted and retired.

Thus, Naoya attained the status of a unified champion. Almost seamless and super powerful. Such knockouts are rare in modern boxing and in general. He’s tough, ruthless, and can turn almost anyone off.

The last step ahead is Briton Paul Butler, who is five years older and was made just to be smart, but not very tall.

Paul recently became the WBO champion. In 2021, he surpassed Wilbaldo Garcia Perez by a split decision. He then defended the title against the Filipino Jonas Sultan in the wheelhouse. Other notable contenders include Emmanuel Rodriguez. They met in 2018, when Puerto Rico was undefeated, a strong prospect and outperformed the Briton by jury decision and was only later eliminated by Inoue in the World Boxing Super Series.

In addition, Butler also lost by knockout in a duel in 2015 against another fighter, Zolani Tete (technical knockout in the eighth round), near the top of the division. The two best opponents – two defeats. Other middle peasants are victories, but in such exchanges it seems suicidal to put Inoue ahead of them.

Who is your favourite?

Obviously Inoue. With a wild break. Probably the biggest this year. The first is the overall odds: 1.02 vs. 12th is the odds for the total rounds. Bookies literally do not believe that the fight will go beyond 3 rounds. On top of that, they give a coefficient of 2.0. The fact that it will be less than three rounds – 1.70.

Seems like a gamble, but no. Considering the style of the boxers, we are very lucky if the knockdown comes in the middle of the fight. There is no reason to believe that this is a very technical confrontation that will go on.

Butler’s main tactics are focusing on defense, a heavy punch, and heavy shifts at mid-range. Even if you look at Paul’s last fight against the Filipinos, it was nothing short of dynamic seconds. The men exchanged literally every second, fought in the middle and near, and put pressure on each other.

And such a strong and powerful cut is the basis of British boxing. He likes the middle distance, he likes to pull himself thanks to his power. At the same time, it is not always possible – the Steward is not always greater than the opponent. Not much larger than the Japanese.

On the other hand, Nonito is a Japanese who is not even afraid of Donaire’s physical pressure and skill. Who broke the talented Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds. Which is not afraid to just cut – she is her personification. And which one is guaranteed to take a stronger blow. The steward also struggles, but you should definitely not compare him with the Japanese.

On the one hand, it is bad to have exactly such a picture before the duel for the absolute championship. Because this is a battle of the best, not a competition for the best to win the belt. On the other hand, the show will be fun. Because the situation with Inoue is no different. And because Butler doesn’t know how to box otherwise.

The British could technically try to work, but it’s a bad plan. The Japanese will catch up, and offending yourself is not the best idea. Paul can go to the wheelhouse. I’m trying to catch an opponent who’s just a little wobbly with hits from Donaire’s best punches. But a knockout is something that can come at the most unexpected moment.

If you’re lucky, we’ll see the main apse of the year. No – Naoya will definitely be an absolute where she deserves to be. And then he might finally be promoted to second lightweight. There he awaits the technical and dimensional champion Stephen Fulton. Finally, there will be at least a theoretical rivalry.