Eddie Hearn believes Naoya Inoue should be bumped down the pound-for-pound rankings unless he fights Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

Inoue has been ranked as one of the leading pound-for-pound contender for several months, as he currently holds the undisputed super-bantamweight world titles.

Japan's Naoya Inoue celebrates his victory against South Korea's Kim Ye-joon during their world super-bantamweight title boxing bout in Tokyo on January 24, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)

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Inoue is second in the pound-for-pound rankings after his latest winCredit: Getty

It promises to be a big year for the four-weight champion who is planning to fight in Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia as part of a three-fight year.

He secured yet another KO win over Ye Joon Kim but has faced calls to take on formidable potential rival in Akhmadaliev.

The Uzbek southpaw is currently a mandatory challenger for Inoue’s belts, but reports indicate that Inoue will instead take on Alan Picasso in his US debut.

Hearn is unhappy with Inoue’s decision and believes he should see the consequences for not accepting the challenge.

He told iFL TV: “Why should Naoya Inoue be given a pass to fight low-level opponents [Ye Joon Kim] and duck his mandatory?

“Not once, not twice, but three times. Naoya Inoue is a pound-for-pound great, but his resume is s***. Okay, he beat Stephen Fulton.

“It was a good performance. I think Naoya Inoue is really disappointing, and I think he’s very, very disappointing as a champion.

“I think fight fans need to wake up to what’s going on with Naoya Inoue. He’s boxed TJ Doheny and the geezer on Saturday [Ye Joon Kim].

“I know he was supposed to fight Sam Goodman. No disrespect, but he’s just another [soft job]. Inoue – time to be removed from the pound-for-pound list.”

Inoue is currently ranked second on the pound-for-pound list, just behind high-achieving heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk who is the current unified champion.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 1: Chairman of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn speaking at the Press Conference to launch the Sunny Edwards vs Galal Yafai fight event (taking place on 30th November 2024) on October 1, 2024 in Birmingham, England.  (Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing/Getty Images).

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Hearn is not impressed with Inoue’s recent resumeCredit: Getty

He is currently above the likes of Terence Crawford and Artur Beterbiev, with the latter currently undisputed light-heavyweight king after beating Dmitry Bivol.

Should he beat Bivol again, he could well increase his position if Inoue is unable to secure the higher calibre of opposition he craves.

Crawford could too jump above Inoue if he is able to climb to 168lbs and beat Canelo Alvarez in their potential fight.

For now, Inoue is focusing on continuing his global brand and preserving his unbeaten record, in an unprecedented period of dominance.

It appears Picasso could be next in a fight he will once again rank as a huge favourite to get the job done.

And Hearn believes, should he take the fight, that he should be stripped of his WBA title.

Akhmadaliev is mandatory for Inoue's belts with the WBA

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Akhmadaliev is mandatory for Inoue’s belts with the WBACredit: Getty

He added: “They’re just allowing this to happen. He’s been ordered twice now to fight MJ [Akhmadaliev. He’s paid money to the WBA for a permit to avoid him.

“The IBF said, ‘We’ll allow you to fight Goodman reluctantly. 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 only going to fight [Alan Davis] Picasso. 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”

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