Overview
This weekend’s boxing spotlight will be on the matchup between Naoya Inoue and Murodjon Akhmadaliev. While Saturday’s fight featuring Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford receives attention, the bout for the undisputed junior featherweight title should not be overlooked.
Akhmadaliev has a record of 14 wins, 1 loss with 11 knockouts, and has been positioning himself as Inoue’s mandatory challenger via the WBA. His momentum took a hit when he lost to Marlon Tapales in April 2023, an event that cost him both the WBA and IBF titles. However, since then, he has secured three consecutive TKO victories against lesser competition.
On the other hand, Inoue, with an impressive 30-0 record and 27 knockouts, has established himself as the pound-for-pound champion in many rankings. Known for his destructive punching power, Inoue consistently performs at a high level.
Potential Vulnerabilities
Inoue experienced his first career knockdown in May 2024 against Luis Nery, putting his vulnerability on display. He managed to recover and win against both Nery and Ramon Cardenas, but his susceptibility to clean shots could be an advantage for Akhmadaliev, who will likely aim for similar strikes.
Upcoming Plans
According to Turki Alalshikh, Inoue may face WBC champion Alan Picasso in December, with a fight against unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani also anticipated in early 2026.
Fight Details
- Date: September 14
- Start Time: 4 a.m. ET (Main Card)
- Location: IG Arena – Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Stream: Top Rank Facebook
Predictions
While Akhmadaliev is a commendable opponent, his chances against Inoue remain slim given the latter’s superior strength and boxing ability. Inoue is projected to secure this fight, with odds favoring him significantly at -1430. A potential outcome is a TKO victory for Inoue in the fifth round.
