By News Editor 
Naoya Inoue — “The Monster” and the undisputed super-bantamweight champion — defends his WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF and The Ring titles against Murodjon Akhmadaliev this Sunday in Nagoya. Promoter Eddie Hearn calls it a “50-50” fight, while Bob Arum insists Akhmadaliev isn’t on Inoue’s level, a split among pundits that only raises the stakes.
In the midst of the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford mega-event, the Japan fight is also stellar for its place within Boxing canon’s ranking system. Unlike the mega-event in Vegas, the fight in Japan, ESPN is likely set to air the match there, but in the US there was much drama. Ultimately, Top Rank opted to air on Facebook.
In Japan, Tickets are selling at frenzy prices (some reselling at 13× face value) and the bout airs on ESPN KNOCKOUT / Disney+ — 05:30 AM (ART). Expect fireworks; can Akhmadaliev pull the upset or does Inoue cement his legacy?
Factors for the fight:
Akhmadaliev’s power & timing: can he land a fight-changing shot early or mid-round?
Inoue’s range and combination punching: does he break Akhmadaliev’s rhythm with bursts and angles?
Body work & conditioning: who sustains output into the later rounds?
Defense vs counters: watch for who adjusts best after the first exchange.
Referee/clinch dynamics: given the intensity, how the referee controls clinches and breaks may swing rounds.