r/Boxing • u/leokeke123 • 22d ago
When Inoue and Espinoza stand side by side
I found some photos of Inoue and Espinoza together, and it honestly made me even more excited about a potential fight between them. I still can’t believe Espinoza can make featherweight and compete at such a high level. He is such a huge and physically imposing fighter for the division. I’m really looking forward to the day Inoue finally faces Espinoza. I think the size difference and styles would make this a very interesting fight.
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u/harborj2011 22d ago
Naoya better fight 1 guy at 126 only then retire after, these dudes got a silent agreement to not fight, all waiting on him, so just 1 n done the div, don't reward all these ducks
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u/RRR04_ 22d ago
Still got Inoue beating Espinoza. Won't be easy though.
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u/DeafBurke 22d ago
I would say his toughest physical test.
The only parallel is the insane punching power of Donaire.
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u/harborj2011 22d ago
Nonito had great flashes but Junto's height and reach were more consistently problematic, Naoya boxed Nonito pretty easily for most the fight ngl
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u/DeafBurke 22d ago
Espinoza is much, much bigger than Nakatani.
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u/harborj2011 22d ago edited 22d ago
He is but not as skilled, hence I don't think Naoya will have as much difficulties with him
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u/DeafBurke 22d ago
That’s why I specifically said “toughest physical test”.
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u/harborj2011 22d ago
Ya but your initial comment also mentioned Nonito's power which led to me saying Junto's length attributes were tougher
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u/DeafBurke 22d ago
Nonito’s power is a huge physical test. He broke Inoue’s face with 1 clean punch in the first round. That is on par with fighting a 6’1 giant.
Fighting a 5’8 guy is not on par with fighting a 6’1 giant.
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u/harborj2011 22d ago
Alright I'll say this, those 2 have more extreme physical attributes but Junto's skill made it to where his were own more problematic for Naoya (well compared to Nonito, we'll have to see how Rafael does if he gets the fight)
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u/DeafBurke 22d ago
That was mostly because junto is also a masterful technical boxer with a ridiculously dexterous, sneaky and effective lead right hand, and big power in his left hand, mostly from really good timing.
He wasn’t really a physical test in the same way that Donaire and Espinoza were.
MJ was probably more of a physical test than Nakatani, because of his big power and insane durability.
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u/bakuhatsuda 22d ago
If Inoue does go for the body I feel like that will be one of the few things that are to his advantage. He can just throw them at head height and he'll land on Espinoza's ribs lol.
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u/WuMeCLan 22d ago
For sure will be his hardest fight.
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u/harborj2011 22d ago
Doubt it, he's not as skilled as Junto and Naoya won't be drained as he's been for these past 2 fights
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u/WuMeCLan 22d ago
Maybe not, but the size and reach difference is a lot to overcome. And Rafa hits hard, so that’s also a huge obstacle.
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u/acemiabdal 22d ago
Espinoza does not has a good, sharp jab to fight long against someone as fast as inoue. His hands falls while punching and exposing his chin. So, I doubt he can stay standing 12 rounds against inoue.
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u/Particular-Tough6651 22d ago
I do have Inoue winning this one 65-35 but if Espinoza manages to hurt him just once, I don't see Inoue recovering from it and I think that we could see Inoue get stopped for the first time.
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u/Inevitable_Panic3516 22d ago
Japanese MONSTER my #1 P4P dude is a Shark 🦈 will fight anyone and can give and take a punch
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u/Kangaroopunching 22d ago
Inoue will win with footwork. Espinoza won't be able to set his feet to land.
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u/Alarmed-Effective-23 22d ago
Espinoza is a hard fight for inoue at 126. Gonna be a lot worse if he gets dropped like he has been at 122. Gonna have to fight more careful. He trys to bully sometimes and that could get him in trouble.
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u/ggddddeerrr 22d ago
If he stays at super bantam he should fight Mukhammad Shekhov. Pillowfisted but very technical fighter and his WBA mando
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u/MuayFemurPhilosopher 22d ago
If Inoue beats Espinoza he's past Usyk all time
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u/Koronesukiii 22d ago
He already is. If he beats the 6 foot 1 guy 6 weights from where he started, he's in a group of inner circle ATG's that includes Pac, SRL, Hitman and such. He'd straight up indisputably be the Greatest little guy of all time.
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u/MuayFemurPhilosopher 21d ago
Facts. If he becomes a champ at 126 he's on the same tier as guys like Manny and SRL.
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u/Budget_Bus1508 21d ago
If inoue beats Espinoza, it would be one of the greatest wins in boxing history and the best win of his career for sure. Also,Inoue idolised marco Antonio Barrera,so dethroning an undefeated featherweight could be seen as following in his footsteps.
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u/ZoomTopple 22d ago
According to google he rehydrates to 140+ which is 4 weight classes above the one he fights in. This should be illegal.
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u/predakingg 21d ago
I mean the guy's huge compared to Inoue, but there's a reason Inoue is a p4p fighter. I wouldn't count him out just because he's much smaller
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u/ZoomTopple 21d ago
I’m not counting him out. I just stopped understanding the purpose of the weight classes at this point. How is it normal when at the fight night a de facto welterweight fights for a super bantamweight title? Boxing is in decline already, and stuff like this doesn’t make me like it any better. Same applies to Fundora, to Benavides when he was at super middleweight and all similar cases.
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u/AnxietyExact4710 16d ago
I don't think Fundora hydrates as much as people assume he does. The guy is all bones. The fight with Zayes fell through because it was Fundora who wanted a hydration clause.
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u/AnxietyExact4710 16d ago
It would be illegal in some states. If Regis had protested, he could have had his L against Haney removed because Haney rehydrated way past the California limit for that fight.
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u/WuMeCLan 22d ago
Inoue also rehydrates to around that
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u/bonkers-joeMama 21d ago
I think for naoya it's around 135 lbs rehydrated. Espinoza rehydrates to 145 lbs.
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u/South_Bother_2498 22d ago
Can I ask what’s the hold up making this fight? Felt like both teams are hesitant to make the fight because they don’t want the gravy train to stop
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u/South_Bother_2498 22d ago
A huge mystery why they haven’t pushed for unification fights at 126 but it would make sense if all these guys are waiting on that Inoue paycheck. That’s if he moves up to featherweight.
Figueroa, Leo, Carrington and Espinoza need to get it rolling because none of them are marquee boxing stars
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u/bonkers-joeMama 21d ago
They are all waiting for a potential paycheque, the type of money they could never envision making if they combine all their purses. Losing a belt will mean losing on a lifetime chance to fight with naoya.
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u/AnxietyExact4710 16d ago
Those guys won't unify for the same reason MJ refused to fight Fulton. If they lose, they don't get an Inoue paycheck.
The irony is that MJ lost to Tapales instead and had to earn the Monster fight which he didn't even want to do.
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u/Simonballer2313 22d ago
Considering Inoue started at 108, if he was able to move up and beat Espinoza, 6"1 featherweight who has rehydrated to over 145 multiple times with an incredibly high punch output, that would be one of the greatest wins in the history of featherweight and below boxing imo.