Naoya Inoue is blinding. His speed, his power, his calm – he makes world champions look ordinary. ESPN even declared in July 2023: “Naoya Inoue is not just the best boxer in the world Non-he is a great time that still adds chapters to his legendary career.”
But history does not bow to highlight roles or pounds for-pounds. It bends for the truth. And the truth is that the greatest achievements of Inoue so far are a win against Nonito Donaire-a previous prima legend who has already beaten decisively before Inoue came to him-and a very good victory over Stephen Fulton, a top fighter, but not the kind of elite name that defines ERAS. Those victories are impressive. They are not legendary yet.
The Broner alert
Box has seen this film before. In 2013, Sports Illustrated made a heading that reads: “Adrien Broner is the next big thing about Boxing.” The media, promoters and fans anointed Broner as the heir of Mayweather, the sport, the future of boxing.
Then Marcos Maidana came along. One night was all that was needed for the aura of Broner to fall in. The hype was really until it wasn’t.
This is the warning for inoue. Yes, he passes the eye test better than Broner has ever done. Yes, he has discipline and dedication that is missing. But until he faces the fighter that can really threaten his aura, we will not know if the hype is genuine – or history will submit it to those who looked unbeatable until it was not.
The Shakur Puzzle
For Inoue, the threat has a name: Shakur Stevenson.
Shakur is the opposite of everyone who fought inoue. He does not give openings. He does not unravel under pressure. He misses punchers and makes them doubt themselves. He is long, long, defensive, patient – the perfect antidote to Inoue’s aggression and timing.
If inoue can solve that puzzle, then he who has already called ESPN: a wonderful time. But until then he didn’t show up.
The problem with “He has been done enough”
Some fans and writers already argue that inoue does not need 135, that he has already achieved greatness. But it is not confidence in inoue. It is protection. It is a low key voucher that they think he will lose against Shakur and want to stop history before the truth comes out.
It’s like asking an umpire to blow the whistle at rest, because your team is ahead. You don’t want to play the second half. But greatness lives in the second half.
The standard of legends
Michael Jordan did not stop when he was an all-star. He did not satisfy with ‘good enough’. He wanted the pistons. He wanted the Celtics. He wanted the Lakers. He wanted to get on the mountain until there was nothing left to prove.
In boxing, greatness demands the same. Pacquiao did not stop at flyweight. Mayweather did not stop at Super Featherweight.
Terence Crawford did not stop as soon as he became undisputed at 140. He did not fully declare himself. He went up, cleaned welterweight, and when the biggest challenge of all appeared – Canelo at 168 – he jumped two divisions and took it. Crawford did not satisfy with ‘good enough’. He climbed until there was nothing left until every doubt was silenced.
This is the standard. This is how legends are made.
Naoya Inoue must follow the same path. If he really believes in his grandeur, he must be eager to oppose Shakur Stevenson at 135.
Pronunciation: large but not yet arrived
Naoya inoue is already wonderful. No one denies it. He has statistics, skills, dominance and aura. But history will not aggravate itself as a legend before climbing to lightweight and facing the puzzle and waiting for him there.
Legends have fans who say, “Who is next?”
Good fighters have fans who say, “That’s enough.”
Greatness inspires confidence.
“Good enough” inspires protection.
And so, the choice is yours.
If you believe that your fighter has reached his ceiling and you are satisfied to see how he collects victories at his current weight until he always retires, it is respectful: Take the blue pill.
If on the other hand you have no doubt in its power to conquer 135, then take the red pill – and see how deep he can go off Shakur’s rabbit hole.
Last updated on 09/26/2025
