- Naoya Inoue defends his undisputed super bantamweight crown against Murodjon Akhmadaliev on Sept. 14.
- The title fight will take place inside the IG Arena in Japan, in Inoue’s home soil.
- Inoue is the -830 betting favorite, while Akhmadaliev is the +550 betting underdog.
Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue will welcome Murodjon Akhmadaliev as his latest challenger to his undisputed super bantamweight crown on Sept. 14 at the IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan.
This is going to be Inoue’s fourth title defense, and due to his previous dominant performances, he’ll head into the championship match as the considerable betting favorite with -830 boxing odds.
On the other hand, Akhmadaliev looks to score a massive upset to become the new king of the division, as he’s going to be the overwhelming underdog with +550 odds.
Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Odds
- Naoya Inoue: -830
- Murodjon Akhmadaliev: +550
- Tie: +2000
Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev: Prediction
I predict that Inoue will score a TKO/KO finish over Akhmadaliev due to the volume of power punches he produces, and he’s a bit quicker than the challenger. This could overwhelm Akhmadaliev and could crumble him in under six rounds.
Inoue may have exposed one hole in his defense during his previous fight and was caught by a left straight to the face, which sat him down. I think he’ll learn from that mistake and adjust accordingly in this match, especially since Akhmadaliev is a southpaw, which means his power hand is his left hand.
The defending champion throws a variety of combinations to the head and face, often swarming his opponents. I believe he’ll use the same strategy against his upcoming challenger and push him backward against the ropes to cut off his angle of escape.
Akhmadaliev may find early success with jabs and left-hand counters, but once Inoue reads his tendencies and spots a defensive gap, he’ll capitalize on it and go all in until he secures another TKO/KO stoppage.
Naoya Inoue’s Recent Fight Results
Inoue is a four-division boxing world champion and now reigns as the undisputed super bantamweight king. He remained undefeated in 30 matches with a 90% TKO/KO rate. The Japanese superstar has stopped his last 10 opponents via TKO/KO.
During this stretch, “The Monster” defeated formidable opponents like Michael Dasmarinas, Nonito Donaire, Paul Butler, TJ Doheny, Stephen Fulton, Marlon Tapales, Luis Nery, and, most recently, Ramon Cardenas.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev’s Recent Fight Results
Akhmadaliev was a former Olympic bronze medalist and an amateur standout before he officially turned pro in 2018. He won his first 11 bouts and captured the IBF super bantamweight title and defended it three times before Tapales defeated him in April 2023 with a close split decision result.
After that setback from the Filipino boxing star, Akhmadaliev bounced back and won his next three fights against Kevin Aaron Gonzalez Ramirez, Ricardo Espinoza Franco, and, most recently, Luis Castillo.
Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev: Tale of the Tape
| Naoya Inoue | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 32 | 30 |
| Height | 5’5” | 5’5½” |
| Record | Record | 14-1 |
| Reach | 67.5 inches | 68 inches |
| Stance | Orthodox | Southpaw |
| TKO/KO Percentage | 90% | 79% |
Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev: Start Time
Sept. 14, 4 a.m. E.T.
Sept. 14, 3 a.m. C.T.
Sept. 14, 2 a.m. M.T.
Sept. 14, 1 a.m. P.T.
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