Via Charles Brun: IBF, WBA & WBC bantamweight champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue will battle WBO champion Paul Butler for the 118 lb title on December 13 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
In theory, a quick knockout victory for Inoue seems to be a foregone conclusion, as Butler has shown a shaky chin and he has no power to try to stop the ‘Monster’. stay away from him.
Assuming Inoue knocks Butler out, this is believed to be the Japanese boxer’s last fight to start at bantamweight before he ascends to 122nd to win four titles in that weight class.
INOUE VS. START DATE, START TIME
- Date: Tuesday, December 13
- Main card: 7pm JST / 10am GMT / 5am ET
- The match will take place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
- Main Event Ring Road (approx.): 9:30 p.m. JST / 12:30 p.m. GMT / 7:30 a.m. ET
- ESPN+ will broadcast the fight in the US, an unannounced UK broadcaster.
- The main pass is set to kick off at 7pm JST / 10am GMT / 5am ET with main event rounds scheduled for 9:30pm JST / 12:30 pm GMT / 7:30 am ET.
Inoue could also quickly become undisputed at super bantamweight after two bouts with champion Stephen Fulton. [WBC & WBO] and Murodjon Akhmadaliev [IBF & WBA].
Defeating those guys will likely be a lot harder for Inoue than working with Butler, as they’re talented, strong, and young.
33-year-old Butler (34-2, 15 KOs) had an important match up against undefeated knockout boxer Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs), and that will need a little miracle on the floor fight. Brit is part of him getting over the discomfort.
You could argue that Inoue’s last knock-out victim, Nonito Donaire, would make it easy for Butler to get a light spanking, which would tell you what he’s up to on December 13.
It’s unclear how many of Butler’s loyal British boxing fans will follow him to Japan to help him. If only a handful of fans want to get to Butler, he’ll have to go out pretty much alone, facing the biggest boxer at 118 lb without much support. Doesn’t look good for Butler.
Butler and Inoue share the same rival as Emmanuel Rodriguez. While Butler was clearly beaten by Rodriguez by a unanimous decision in the 12th inning in 2018, ‘Monster destroyed the Puerto Rican in two innings in 2019.
Based on how the two boxers deal with the same boxer, that doesn’t look good for Butler.
Butler said: “I’ve been boxing for over 20 years, and all the successes and failures have brought me here, to the biggest fight of my career, with the biggest prize in the sport. this.
“I have no illusions about the scale of the task I face, but I went to bed dreaming of becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.
INOUE VS. TRY THE BUTTERFLY BATTLE
- Naoya Inoue vs. Paul Buter; For the world bantamweight titles IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO
- Yoshiki Takei vs. Bruno Tarimo; super bantamweight
- Andy Hiraoka versus Min Ho Jung; Super light
- Takuma Inoue vs. Jake Bornea; feather class
- Satoshi Shimizu vs. Landy Cris Leon; Super light
- Hironori Miyake vs Peter McGrail; feather class
