Inoue-Davis match remains a dream
CONCOCTING dream or fantasy matches always makes for an entertaining debate for pro boxing fans.
For the last few months, boxing fans have been exchanging opinions on what will happen if power punchers Naoya “The Monster” Inoue of Japan and Gervonta “Tank” Davis of the United States end up trading punches in the ring.
Inoue and Davis have caught the attention of boxing fans because of their immense punching power. These guys have enough firepower in their gloves to topple Godzilla.
Both are diminutive fighters, with Inoue standing a mere 5’5” and Davis measuring at 5’6.” They both tote a 68inch reach. Boxing fans honestly believe they make for a perfect match in the ring. You can be sure there is a promoter out there ready to break the bank to bring the two together in the ring.
Unfortunately, there is one big problem that may be too difficult to hurdle. We are talking here about the weight class.
As everybody knows, boxers are categorized according to weight classes.
Inoue currently competes in the junior featherweight or super bantamweight division which has a weight limit of 122 pounds. On the other hand, Davis campaigns in the lightweight class which has a weight limit of 135 pounds.
Davis can easily bulk up to junior welterweight (140 pounds) and retain his explosiveness. The same cannot be said for Inoue. The Japanese started out as light flyweight champ in 2014, weighing only 108 pounds. Inoue has since won titles in the junior bantamweight (115 pounds), bantamweight (118 pounds) and junior featherweight (122 pounds).
Inoue may be stretching himself too far by going up to the lightweight or 135-pound division. Not a few believe Inoue may max out at featherweight or 126 pounds. After he unifies all four belts in the junior featherweight division, Inoue is expected to move up to featherweight and finish his career there. Davis going down to 126 pounds is not going to happen as he is likely to move up to junior welterweight.
The junior lightweight or super featherweight division (130 pounds) has been mentioned as the “neutral” division for the boxers, but thus far nobody has expressed interest.
Davis and Inoue have both acknowledged the huge stumbling block that is their weight difference.
“I am not fighting him. He is nowhere near my weight,” Davis has posted on social media.
Inoue has also shot down any talk of a future fight with Davis. The Japanese recently told The Ring magazine: “I wouldn’t fight at super featherweight (130 pounds) just because the money is good. There are many fighters who have chased the money, but ended up not being able to perform well and quit. The reason I box is not for the money. There are weight divisions in boxing for a reason.”
Inoue said it best. There are indeed weight classes for a reason. There have been a handful of boxers who were able to conquer several weight classes, notably our very own Manny Pacquiao who won titles in an unprecedented eight weight classes. But even Pacquiao treaded the path carefully, occasionally putting in catch weight clauses in the fight contract. A catch weight is where the fighters agree to meet halfway if only to settle any weight issue between them. For instance, if the fight will be fought at welterweight or 147 pounds, one boxer can ask the other that they meet at the catch weight of 145 pounds which is still within the vicinity of the welterweight division.
The weight difference between Inoue (122 pounds) and Davis (135 pounds) is just too big to find the ideal catchweight.
Recently, undisputed welterweight king Terence Crawford talked about moving up from 147 (welterweight) pounds to 168 pounds (super middleweight) to fight Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. This will be a massive jump in weight for Crawford and many believe he will just be doing it for the money. Crawford, however, insists he can make the jump and stay competitive.
Inoue is one who is quick to take cognizance of his physical limitations.
For somebody who started out at 108 pounds, Inoue can only bulk up so much.
Inoue plans to fight three times this year at junior featherweight.
Thereafter, possibly in 2025, he is likely to campaign in the featherweight or 126 pounds. By that time, Davis will have bulked up to welterweight or 147 pounds.
Inoue-Davis is one hell of a fight, but one destined to remain a figment of the imagination.