Naoya Inoue will move up to the junior featherweight division in 2023.
“The real battle starts from here,” Inoue said, per the Associated Press.
“I am very excited.”
At 29 years old, Inoue has won world titles in three weight classes. Most recently, the Japanese fighter beat Paul Butler to become the first men’s undisputed bantamweight champion. Along the way, he picked up victories against Nonito Donaire, Jason Moloney and Emmanuel Rodríguez.
In the junior featherweight division, Stephen Fulton Jr. and Murodjon Akhmadaliev hold a piece of the title. Close behind, Luis Nery, Ra’eese Aleem and Azat Hovhannisyan sit as the division’s top contenders.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev is expected to fight Marlon Tapales in the spring. Meanwhile, Fulton Jr. has not indicated when he will return to the ring. Furthermore, he has not confirmed that he will stay in the division or move up one weight class.
At this time, Inoue has not indicated when he will make his junior bantamweight debut.
