“Naoya Inoue is obliged to fight the mandatory contender from Uzbekistan”, — write: sport.ua
Absolute world champion in the second lightest weight Naoya Inoue (28–0, 25 KOs, Japan) was scheduled to fight Australian Sam Goodman (19–0, 8 KOs) on December 24.
The day before, it became known that the applicant was injured and will not be able to enter the ring.
But there was another problem – mandatory WBA contender Murojon Akhmadaliyev (Uzbekistan) won the interim title and now has to meet Inoue. If the Japanese does not fight the Uzbek, he risks losing one belt, and with it the title of absolute champion.
WBA president Gilberto Mendoza said that the Inoue-Goodman fight will take place first, and then the Japanese will have 10 days to negotiate with Ahmadaliyev. If the boxer from Uzbekistan agrees to wait a little, then Naoya will remain with all the titles.