Famous promoter Eddie Hearn believes that unified world champion Naoya Inoue should be stripped of the WBA title for refusing to defend against Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
The IBF said, ‘That’s the second time you’ve ducked, but after you fight Goodman or this guy [Kim] you just boxed, you have to fight Akhmadaliev, and we’ll order the fight immediately. If you do not fight him, you’ll be stripped of the WBA title.’ He’s not as good as Akhmadaliev. Three ducks [by Inoue]. This is outrageous. You are disappointing, Naoya Inoue. You are not the fighter that I thought you were. Akhmadaliev is now going to be the WBA champion. You have to fight him to be undisputed.
Eddie Hearn, quoted by talkSPORT
Inoue last fought against Ye Joon Kim on January 24 in Tokyo, Japan. In this fight, which was stopped in the fourth round, Naoya won by knockout and retained his title as the unified world champion. In his professional boxing career, he has 29 wins (26 by knockout) and no losses.
