Why is Naoya Inoue so strong? The commonalities of geniuses that Souta Fujii also feels
Professional Boxing WBA, IBF World Bantamweight Champion Naoya Inoue (29 = Ohashi) will face WBC Class Champion Nonito Donaire (39 = Philippines) at Saitama Super Arena on June 7th. If Inoue wins in the rematch for the first time in 2 years and 7 months, he may jump to the top of the Japanese first Pound for Pound (PFP = the strongest in the world assuming the same weight difference) ranking. be. Why is Inoue so strong? Where is he compared to successive world champions? Mr. Shoji Tsue of Kyodo News, who has been watching and interviewing boxing for more than 60 years, Masanori Shuto, a former boxing manager of Nikkan Sports, and Eiji Fujinaka, who is currently in charge, talked about it in a roundtable discussion.
battle2022.06.01 11:05
Masanori Shuto, Eiji Fujinaka
From the left, former boxing manager Masanori Shuto, Kyodo News Shoji Tsue, and current manager Eiji Fujinaka.
To the top of Pound for Pound
ShutoNaoya Inoue is currently ranked 3rd in the PFP ranking. In other words, the best 3 among the active world champions of all classes. If he wins this match against Donaire, he could be ranked at the top. The world now recognizes his strength. Why is Inoue so strong?
TsueThe obvious difference from other world champions is speed. Both jabs and finish blows have outstanding hand speeds. Instantaneous power is different. On top of that, the punch has power and sharpness. There are no mysterious flaws.
FujinakaThere is power in addition to speed. I saw the opponent fall down many times during sparring. I’ve been covering boxing for a long time, but I haven’t seen many people fall down due to sparring between other players.
TsueSparring is not a match, so I will not do my best. The gloves are also big. It’s amazing that you can still beat it. His trash is where you can KO with one punch.
FujinakaThe symbolic one is the match against Juan Carlos Payano, the former WBA world bantamweight super champion in the first round of WBSS in October 2018. He won the KO in the first 1 minute 10 seconds with a high-speed one-two blow. That is the shortest KO of the Japanese world champion. Payano was the first professional career to lose KO.
TsueThat was a KO with his first punch when the gong at the start of the match rang. At just the right timing. It was a KO drama that Japanese people couldn’t do.
ShutoCertainly there is speed and power, but now, I can instantly judge the chance of this moment and step in without hesitation. Inspiration, timing and courage. I think that sense is amazing.
TsueWhen he was an amateur, the top players said, “Inoue is completely different from the boxers up until now,” so I think the ones that were originally born are different. In addition to that quality, he practices a lot.
FujinakaI think the reason why you can punch without hesitation in an instant is because you have a high concentration. What makes him different from other players is that sometimes he doesn’t respond at all when he talks to him at the gym. He’s not ignoring it, he’s just focused. He is practicing with really great concentration. The trainer’s father also creates a tingling air from practice, and that air is transmitted to me as well. What’s more, that tingling sensation is increasing with each career. I think the game is even more focused.
TsueIt is often said that genius is concentration, not just boxing.
Naoya Inoue has a fierce meeting with Nonito Donaire (left) in the 8th WBSS final in November 19
The last match against Donaire was a great match
ShutoOnly speed and punching power are attracting attention, but Inoue also has mental strength and toughness as well as concentration.
TsueIn the last match against Donaire in November 19th, he was in a pinch for the first time after being hit by a strong left hook twice. I thought I would lose as it is. He also cut the corners of his eyes and had a fracture of his orbital (cancer) bottom and a fracture of his nasal bone. It was a situation where the referee could stop. However, I recovered from that predicament and took down and won. It was a great game that showed his strength.
FujinakaThe strength of mental power can only be said to be natural. Recently, he has been thinking a lot about how to keep his motivation in fighting defense. After the match against Donaire, the match against WBO World Bantamweight No. 1 Moloney in Las Vegas in October 2008 was about defending in Las Vegas, the home of boxing. The theme of the World War in December last year is to play a good match in the defense battle that will be held in Japan for the first time in two years. He said that it would be difficult to maintain motivation unless the theme was set separately from the other party. In that sense, the opponent is very motivated in this match against Donaire. He also said, “It changed my feelings so much.”
ShutoI think he can put out what he practiced in the world war ring as it is. The world war is completely different from the usual game in terms of opponents, pressure, attention, etc., so there are many players who can’t put out their original strength, but he stands in the ring with a normal heart.
November 19 WBSS Final Naoya Inoue defeats Nonito Donaire, raises the cup powerfully, and raises a sword
Calm in front of 5 belts
TsueI am also in charge of shogi, so I am also interviewing Souta Fujii, but Naoya Inoue and Souta Fujii have one big thing in common. They don’t want titles and honors, they just love shogi and boxing and want to find their way. I think that is very similar.
FujinakaInoue, who won the third class, has all five belts, including the four groups WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO, and the one given by The Ring magazine. He had the opportunity to shoot five shots side by side, and usually he was immersed in a sense of accomplishment, but he didn’t feel that way, and he didn’t look so happy.
Souta Fujii, who plays the first defense of the Eiou battle and takes a commemorative photo with a bouquet in his hand = May 24, 2010
TsueFujii also has five crowns now, but it’s just plain. The press and fans are more excited. But I think that’s his strength and it leads to trash.
FujinakaFujii will play and Inoue will win the match in the ring. That is the only theme. The idea is that the result will come after the 4th class conquest. It’s not honor or money. His ideal match is “a match where you don’t know which one will win”. I don’t know which one will win, and I want to win there. It is said that this match against Donaire is also advantageous to Inoue, who won last time, so it is not a true ideal match for him. He’s not afraid to lose at all, even if he keeps winning this much.
TsueFujii is not afraid of losing at all. I think it’s the same. It’s not a bad thing to stick to the number of defenses and the number of classes you win. But I think Inoue is in a different dimension from the boxers up until now.
The second part will be delivered on June 2nd. looking forward to】