Erik Morales vs Naoya Inoue (Hypothetical) (122)

[J.C. Superstar]

Erik Isaac Morales Elvira (born September 1, 1976) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2012. He is the first Mexico-born boxer in history to win world championships in four weight classes, ranging from super bantamweight to light welterweight. Morales defeated fifteen world champions during the course of his career, and is famous for his trilogies with fellow Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, as well as Manny Pacquiao. ESPN ranked Morales at number 49 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time. Morales was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2018

He had beaten Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Kevin Kelley, Wayne McCullough, Marco Antonio Barrera, Chi In-jin, Paulie Ayala, and Manny Pacquiao.

He had lost to Barrera X2, Pacquiao X2, David Diaz, Zahir Rahem, Maidana and DSG X2.





Naoya Inoue (井上 尚弥, Inoue Naoya, born 10 April 1993) is a undefeated Japanese professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Monster", Inoue is known for his timing, speed, punching power, and body-punching ability, having a knockout ratio of 88%. He is a three-division world champion and the former undisputed bantamweight world champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, Ring ****zine titles between 2019 and January 2023, and the WBC and WBO titles between 2022 and January 2023. He previously held the WBA (Regular) bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019, the WBO junior-bantamweight title from 2014 to 2018, and the WBC light-flyweight title in 2014. As of 2023, he is ranked as the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB), second by The Ring, the Boxing Writers Association of America and ESPN, and fourth by BoxRec. He is also ranked as the best bantamweight by The Ring, TBRB, ESPN, and BoxRec. He is the only Japanese fighter in history to be ranked #1 pound for pound by The Ring.

He had defeated Omar Narvaez, Kohei Kono, Jamie McDonnell, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Jason Moloney, Paul Butler and Nonito Donaire X2.

No defeats, he is going to fight Stephen Fulton in July 25.

[Madison Boxing]

morales beats the dog crap out of him... inoue struggled in that first fight against a way past prime donaire who even in his prime was nowhere near as good as morales

[J.C. Superstar]

morales beats the dog crap out of him... inoue struggled in that first fight against a way past prime donaire who even in his prime was nowhere near as good as morales

Was way more competitive than it should had actually been. I don't think this is a mismatch, but with context I am noticing that Inoue's most prevalent wins were over fighters outside of their prime, excluding Emmanuel Rodriguez who had defeated Maloney and Butler.

The same fighters that Emmanuel and Inoue had fought recently and are still at their prime, however despite being former world champions, they had no significant marquee wins, Moloney had only defeated Kono on his way out to retirement.



Still quite impressive that he took out the Puerto Rican inside three rounds and Donaire was still a dangerous fighter despite being on the decline.

[Offensive Wizardry]

morales beats the dog crap out of him... inoue struggled in that first fight against a way past prime donaire who even in his prime was nowhere near as good as morales

/thread.

[MONGOOSE66]

Inoue is a straight ahead pressure hitter by nature. That’s perfect for Morales. He had a way of making power hitters more shy. A testament to his power and gameness. He had an awkward style most found it difficult to hit him clean but he found a way to hit you clean and that made opponents more careful and less aggressive.

[J.C. Superstar]

Know this thread is a year old but I like to revisit it considering Inoue has two championship fights under his belt at 122, Naoya Inoue has been looking strong and sharp at 122.

Even if Fulton isn't exactly the biggest big puncher, he had quite impressive skills. Tapales is also a pretty solid champion though honestly I don't know how he lasted 10 rounds.

[J.C. Superstar]

Bumping this thread because Inoue fought and beat Nery by 6 round KO, the mexican fighter is from Tijuana, the same state as El Terrible.

[MONGOOSE66]

People must of forgot what an OLD Morales did to Pacquiao. Morales was bigger and had far longer arms than Inoue. It would be a fun fight. My money would be on Eric.

[dibzvincent143]

People must of forgot what an OLD Morales did to Pacquiao. Morales was bigger and had far longer arms than Inoue. It would be a fun fight. My money would be on Eric.

How was Morales old against Pacquiao when he was 29 years old during their first fight lol that’s one of the most ridiculous nonsense i keep on hearing in boxingscene which is supposed to be a forum where everyone is atleast more knowledgeable than a casual fan.

i say that fight was the last of Morales’ prime, he took some damage in that fight as well and it was downhill for him from there.

to be fair to pacquiao that wasn’t his prime yet.

[dibzvincent143]

Erik Isaac Morales Elvira (born September 1, 1976) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2012. He is the first Mexico-born boxer in history to win world championships in four weight classes, ranging from super bantamweight to light welterweight. Morales defeated fifteen world champions during the course of his career, and is famous for his trilogies with fellow Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, as well as Manny Pacquiao. ESPN ranked Morales at number 49 on their list of the 50 greatest boxers of all time. Morales was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2018

He had beaten Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Kevin Kelley, Wayne McCullough, Marco Antonio Barrera, Chi In-jin, Paulie Ayala, and Manny Pacquiao.

He had lost to Barrera X2, Pacquiao X2, David Diaz, Zahir Rahem, Maidana and DSG X2.





Naoya Inoue (井上 尚弥, Inoue Naoya, born 10 April 1993) is a undefeated Japanese professional boxer. Nicknamed "The Monster", Inoue is known for his timing, speed, punching power, and body-punching ability, having a knockout ratio of 88%. He is a three-division world champion and the former undisputed bantamweight world champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, Ring ****zine titles between 2019 and January 2023, and the WBC and WBO titles between 2022 and January 2023. He previously held the WBA (Regular) bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019, the WBO junior-bantamweight title from 2014 to 2018, and the WBC light-flyweight title in 2014. As of 2023, he is ranked as the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB), second by The Ring, the Boxing Writers Association of America and ESPN, and fourth by BoxRec. He is also ranked as the best bantamweight by The Ring, TBRB, ESPN, and BoxRec. He is the only Japanese fighter in history to be ranked #1 pound for pound by The Ring.

He had defeated Omar Narvaez, Kohei Kono, Jamie McDonnell, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Jason Moloney, Paul Butler and Nonito Donaire X2.

No defeats, he is going to fight Stephen Fulton in July 25.

Nostalgia would probably make us pick Morales, but in his prime he hasn’t look as destructive as Inoue currently is.
And let’s not pretend the skill disparity is too much, as that is often the notion when comparing technical boxers vs aggressive ones — that the latter are viewed as less skilled.

I’d pick Inoue over El terible. I’d pick Inoue over a 122 pacquiao as well and im a pac fan — young pacquiao just wasn’t as polished as this version of inoue.