“But maybe there is some benefit in it”, — write: sport.ua
But that’s how things have turned out. Why they turned out the way they did and what they will do now – we will tell you right now.
Inoue was supposed to box against another opponent. But everything was canceled twice Naoya Inoue boxes at a standard and calm pace. It is meant not in the ring, but the number of confrontations during the year. Usually there are two of them. At least, this pace has been maintained since 2018. With the exception of 2020, when Naoya boxed once – he knocked out Jason Moloney.
The trend was supposed to break in 2024. Naoya boxed for the first time in the spring – he knocked out Luis Neri. Then he knocked out TJ Doheny in the fall. And after that he was supposed to meet with Sam Goodman. But at some point, everything did not go according to plan.
The primary confrontation was planned for December 24 – immediately after the rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk. On the one hand, it is an ambiguous day. After all, everyone will be discussing the heavyweight fight. On the other hand, the decision is good. At the end of the year, there are no competitors for views.
However, the match failed. Before the fight, Goodman injured his face – he received a dissection. Because of this, the battle had to be postponed. Just in time for January 24.
The second time the fight broke down in the same way. And for the same reason. Sam hurt his face again. Even the same eye. It seems that Goodman still went to sparring and just finished the result. For example, the same Tyson Fury almost did not spar due to an eye injury, but he still went to the first match against Usyk.
Goodman, of course, failed. He talked a lot before the fight, went to the ring to Inoue, said: “Come out to fight me or leave the titles vacant.” And then he was injured twice, received such a dissection, which can now be corrected only thanks to plastic surgery, and was out of the biggest fight in his career for a long time.
Korean Ye Yun Kim was found to replace him. And it’s an amazing replacement. After all, in such cases, they always have options just in case. They negotiate with boxers who could replace one of the participants in the fight. Is Ye Yoon Kim the best among them?
Kim is a middle peasant. In the best case scenario. On average, Ye Yun faced mediocre boxers. Boxed in Korea until 2019. In 2022, he returned to boxing and has been traveling the world since then. He fought in Mexico, USA, Australia and Thailand. Won early three times and lost once.
But these numbers should not be as impressive as it might seem at first glance. Because there were no opponents of average and above average level among the opposition. A boxer like Kim would never get a fight against Inoue. But somehow the circumstances turned out to be such that he became the first and main backup option for Naoya in the title match. Theoretically, a Korean can become the absolute champion of the world without holding a single qualifying match for the status of a contender or at least for getting into the top 5 ratings of the category.
Who is the favorite? Obviously Naoya Inoue. Bookmakers give odds of 1.03 for his victory. For the victory of his opponent – 12.50.
The gap is obvious. Naoya Inoue is one of the best boxers in the world. Guaranteed to be in the top three boxers in the world right now. Most of his fights in his career are title fights. He is the winner of the boxing Super Series. Two-time absolute champion. Reboxed with most tops. Champion in four weight categories. The best Japanese boxer in history.
Ye Yoon Kim is just a boxer. Not bad, but not great either. He attacks the body well. Has a good kick. Presses well. And at the same time, he knows how to counterattack – especially accurately to the body. But there is nothing that Kim can do that should pose a question to Inoue.
Kim’s only chance is to hit hard. Naoya in 2024 went for a knockdown – he was caught by a blow from Louis Neri. The Japanese champion went forward too actively and stumbled.
He may stumble this time as well – if he believes in himself too much, he will want to quickly knock out his opponent, but he will get something in return. But is it to be believed? Not much. Not at all.
Too Naoya Inoue is smart, reserved, technical and strong. Even if he misses, he will get up and give three times more.
Then why such a fight? Probably, so that the long preparation does not burn out. Inoue was preparing for the end of December, the end of January. It’s all money, time. If the match is cancelled, Naoya will have to rest, recuperate and return to camp without getting anything. And so there will be combat practice, show, warm-up. And finally, a greater number of matches than two in a year.
Inoue will probably get more than one big fight this year. So, maybe this is the right decision – to leave at least with such a visa, and not to cancel everything.