Naoya to Las Vegas!

Bob Arum has laid out an exciting roadmap for Naoya Inoue following his latest victory. On Tuesday, Inoue defended his undisputed junior featherweight title by stopping veteran TJ Doheny in Tokyo, although the performance was more measured than usual. Arum, who watched the fight ringside, speculated that Inoue adopted a more cautious approach due to his previous knockdown in May against Luis Nery and the significant rehydration of Doheny, who reportedly weighed around 147 pounds on fight night after making the 122-pound limit.

Inoue secured the win in the seventh round after a body shot forced Doheny to quit, moving Inoue closer to his next challenge. According to Arum, Inoue is set for a December 24 showdown in Tokyo, likely against Australia’s top contender Sam Goodman, who remains undefeated but is seen as a heavy underdog. Arum also hinted at plans for Inoue to return to the U.S. in 2025, with a potential April date for a high-profile Las Vegas fight, which Arum said would be a significant event, drawing a large crowd from Japan.

Watch Inoue's post-fight interview here: Watch

Arum revealed his vision for a "celebration" card in Las Vegas that could feature not only Inoue but also other prominent Japanese fighters. One key name in this plan is three-division unbeaten champion Junto Nakatani, who is set to headline a major boxing event in Japan this October. Arum aims to build towards an eventual showdown between Inoue and Nakatani, potentially setting up a blockbuster event in the Tokyo Dome later in the year.

While Carl Moretti, Top Rank’s Vice President of Boxing Operations, emphasized that each fight needs to unfold before looking too far ahead, he acknowledged that Arum’s grand strategy could come to fruition. Arum himself expressed his pride in Inoue's accomplishments and is eager to see his starfighter continue making waves both in Japan and the U.S.