Japanese powerhouse Naoya Inoue, also known as “The Monster”, has eaten his way through 25 opponents across four divisions.
Next up for the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titleholder is a matchup against fellow unified champ Marlon Tapales at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on December 26.
WATCH: Naoya Inoue vs. Marlon Tapales, exclusively on ESPN+
Such are the expectations surrounding Inoue that few fans and experts believe that Tapales can test him in this undisputed title fight.
It’s not that the Filipino lefty isn’t a quality operator – far from it. Tapales has a solid enough resume, he can punch his weight, and he’s courageous. It’s just that he doesn’t look like the kind of fighter that will end the rampaging Inoue’s unbeaten streak.
With that being the case, it’s beyond tempting to predict what could be next for Inoue. Having only made his 122-pound debut in July when he thrashed the previously undefeated Stephen Fulton, the Japanese star stands to fully unify that division in just five months.
Will he move up again? To test Inoue, The Sporting News looks at five fantasy matchups against fighters who campaign from super bantamweight all the way up to the lightweight division.
Naoya Inoue vs. Luis Nery
Should Inoue dispose of Tapales, the Nery fight is perhaps the only worthwhile matchup left for him at super bantamweight – and there’s a backstory.
Nery (34-1, 26 KOs) is a former bantamweight world champion. In 2017, he knocked out beloved Japanese national Shinsuke Yamanaka for the title, but the Mexican fighter’s reputation was damaged when it emerged that he’d tested positive for a banned substance (zilpaterol).
The WBC investigated this matter and decided that the positive test was down to food contamination. Nery was allowed to keep his title, but the champion blew it completely when he weighed in three pounds over the bantamweight limit for the Yamanaka rematch.
The bout went ahead and Nery destroyed Yamanaka in two rounds. However, the Japanese were so incensed by his unprofessional conduct that they banned him from competing in the country ever again. The WBC also stripped Nery of his title.
On foreign soil, this would be a tantalising revenge mission for Inoue.
Naoya Inoue vs. Robeisy Ramirez
While double Olympic champion Ramirez has still to secure a career-defining fight, his talent level is undeniable.
The Cuban lefty has already captured a WBO championship at featherweight, but his biggest nights lie ahead of him. Ramirez’s ceiling in the sport looks limitless right now and he's a pound-for-pound star in waiting.
In terms of his attributes, the 29-year-old has the type of ring craft and presence that you’d expect from a Cuban Olympic great. However, Ramirez also has stunning one-punch power, as evidenced by his viral knockout of the previously unbeaten Abraham Nova.
Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) is also known to Japanese audiences who looked on as he destroyed Satoshi Shimizu on the Inoue-Fulton undercard.
The other good news is that Ramirez is represented by Top Rank who co-promotes Inoue. This one could be put together in a hurry.
Naoya Inoue vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko
Even though Lomachenko has been campaigning at lightweight for several years, this one is not a physical mismatch.
It’s common knowledge that Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) is not a full lightweight. The Ukrainian wizard could still make 130 pounds, which is not a million miles away from Inoue, who is poised to enter the 126-pound division soon.
While Lomachenko is two inches taller at 5ft 7in, it’s Inoue who has an edge in reach (67in to 65½in). Also, while Loma is naturally bigger, the former three-weight world champion does not fight in a style where his size is decisive. The ex-champ is a dazzling sharpshooter with quick feet.
The bad news is that Lomachenko is 35 years old and on the way out. There are rumours that he may face former unified lightweight champ George Kambosos Jr. in Australia, so sadly the chances of seeing him against Inoue are very slim.
Naoya Inoue vs. Shakur Stevenson
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) is a new entry in the lightweight division and the reigning WBC champion. Like Inoue, the Newark-born technician has climbed through the divisions, having also annexed world titles at featherweight and super featherweight.
A pound-for-pound entrant, Stevenson is one of the most formidable boxers in the world today. Blessed with rapier speed, lightning reflexes and unmatched ring craft, the American presents a tough challenge for anyone in and around these weight classes.
Unfortunately, Inoue does not appear to be on Stevenson’s radar. The 26-year-old technician is tailing the likes of Devon Haney, Ryan Garcia, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Gervonta "Tank" Davis, in his quest for lightweight supremacy.
In all honesty, though, this fantasy fight would be a bit unfair on Inoue. He’s three inches shorter than Stevenson, who is in the prime of his career.
Naoya Inoue vs. Gervonta Davis
“The Monster” versus “Tank”. This is the money-spinning showdown with all the trimmings for Inoue and it would be a colossal pay-per-view event.
When the Japanese star blasted out Fulton in July, there were calls for him to face Davis, who carries similar state-of-the-art weaponry to Inoue. Both fighters are lightning-quick, super-skilled, one-punch knockout artists.
Again, the problem here is natural weight. Davis (29-0, 27 KOs), despite mainly campaigning at lightweight in recent years, has boxed as high as super lightweight. While he’s the same height as Inoue at 5ft 5in, he’s much broader and more robust, which is a huge advantage for such a seasoned fighter.
It’s a challenge – and a crazy one – for Inoue, but what does Davis have to shoot for other than money? If he wins, fans will say that Inoue was too small. If he loses, then Tank's overall career would be questioned and his reputation would be in tatters. Some fights just aren’t supposed to happen.
WATCH: Naoya Inoue vs. Marlon Tapales, exclusively on ESPN+