Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym, the first Japanese boxer to top the pound-for-pound rankings by the prestigious Ring Magazine for his devastating knockout victory over Nonito Donaire of the Philippines in June and captured the World Boxing Council bantamweight title to add to his two world titles, was given a plaque from the magazine commemorating his feat, the gym said on Sept. 19.

While Inoue was soon replaced by undefeated heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine, who holds the world titles of the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization, as the magazine put second-place Usyk ahead of Inoue following his decision victory over Britain’s Anthony Joshua in his title defense of the three sanctioning bodies in August. Britain’s Tyson Fury is the current WBC heavyweight kingpin.

The 29-year-old Inoue is said to face WBO bantamweight ruler Paul Butler of Britain within this year in an attempt to sweep the titles of the all the four major sanctioning bodies.
Photo by Ohashi Boxing Gym