Naoya Inoue Vacates Titles, Moving Up To 122-Pounds

Naoya Inoue will be changing weight classes.

Inoue is the current undisputed bantamweight champion but has announced his will vacate his titles to move up to super bantamweight at 122lbs. The announcement was made during a press conference held Friday in his hometown of Yokohama, Japan, where he formally revealed his intentions of next conquering the 122-pound division.

“I would like to inform you that I will return the belts of the four [sanctioning bodies],” Inoue revealed to the assembled media at a Yokohama hotel conference room (via BoxingScene). “Each belt is a memorable one for me. In 2023, I would like to move up one weight class and challenge the super bantamweight division. It’s the perfect match, but there’s nothing left to do in this bantamweight division, and there’s no opponent I want to fight…

“I have decided to compete in the super bantamweight division and challenge fighters who are bigger than me,” noted Inoue. “From here on out, it’s a real thing. I’m really excited about it—I think it could be the final chapter.”

The news of Inoue vacating his titles and moving up comes one month after he became the first Japanese – and Asian – boxer to become an undisputed champion in the multi-belt era. He accomplished the feat with an 11th round KO of Paul Butler to win the WBO belt to his collection of lineal, WBC, WBA and IBF titles on December 13 in Tokyo.

Naoya Inoue (24-0) is coming off the KO win over Butler while before that, TKO’d Nonito Donaire – which was the second time he beat him, as he earned a decision the first time out – in the second round in a stellar performance. In his career, he holds notable wins over Jason Moloney, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Payano, and Antonio Nieves.

As of right now, it’s uncertain when Inoue will return or who he will face in his 122lbs debut but it will no doubt be a massive fight.

Who would you like to see Naoya Inoue fight at 122lbs?