Naoya Inoue Vs. Paul Butler on December 13 in Japan, Live on ESPN

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Image: Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao & Naoya “Monster” Inoue Lead Best Asians!

Image: Naoya Inoue vs Paul Butler on December 13 in Japan, live on ESPN

December 11, 2022 is

Via Robert Segal: Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue and Paul Butler are getting ready for their undisputed clash at bantamweight on December 13 in Japan.

The battle between Inoue and Butler will take place LIVE on the GAME+ at 2:30 a.m. ET in the US

WBO bantamweight champion Butler (32-2, 15 KOs) is seen as the underdog against big boxer Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs), who looks invincible at this point in the game. his career.

The winner of the Inoue-Butler fight will be the first undisputed bantamweight champion in nearly 50 years.

For 118 lb IBF/WBA/WBC champion Inoue, he needed this belt to complete his title collection in bantamweight.

With one win, Inoue would own all four titles at 118 lb and then decide whether to rise to 122 to try to collect all the belts in that weight class or stay at bantamweight and four belt protection.

Inoue, 29, will knock out Nonito Donaire in the second round in a rematch last June in Saitama, Japan. Donaire caused Inoue major problems in their first bout in November 2019, losing a grueling 12th round unanimous decision in a bout in which both boxers were injured.

By the time Inoue finally managed to give Donaire a rematch, it was a complete carnage. The 39-year-old Donaire slowed down considerably from their first match and was easily picked up by superstar ‘Monster’ Inoue in the rematch.

“I haven’t watched all of his matches yet, but I can see him as a talented and energetic fighter,” Inoue told ESPN about Butler. “If I can unify four bantamweight belts this year, I want to move up to super bantamweight.”

If Inoue moves up to 122, he could face IBF/WBA champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev and WBC/WBO champion Stephen Fulton for the title and become undisputed at super bantamweight.

Ideally, Inoue should win all four belts quickly, as long as his top Rankers can help him fight those champions.

Butler recently won the vacant 118 lb WBO title with a unanimous 12-round decision against Jonas Sultan in April. Butler’s win is his eighth straight win since losing to Emmanuel Rodriguez in the 12th round four years ago in 2018. In 2015, Zolani Tete beat Butler in the round of 16.