Another year is in the books, and 2025 delivered many exciting moments in the sport of boxing. Speaking of exciting, reigning undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) was one of the most active fighters this year. Making four successful defenses of the 122-pound undisputed championship against top competitors in the division. It was just the second time in his 13-year professional career that he fought that often in a calendar year.
Let’s look at why, despite the best efforts of Terence Crawford, the Japanese superstar is our 2025 Boxer of the Year.
Naoya Inoue Starts 2025 With a Bang
In January, the native of Zama, Kanagawa, Japan, took on Ye Joon Kim to kick off the action in 2025. Inoue showcased his fierce speed and power, to which Kim had no answers. In the fourth round, the defending champion tagged Kim repeatedly before a flush one-two combination sent the challenger down on his knees. One knockdown was all Inoue needed, as he secured a knockout victory.
Overcoming Serious Resistance From Ramon Cardenas
Inoue returned for his fourth defense of the 122-pound undisputed championship against Ramon Cardenas in May. A determined Cardenas maintained a tight guard and found success working on the inside. In round two, the massive underdog landed a counter left hook, which knocked Inoue down for just the second time in his career. Inoue was able to recover and found the mark behind his fast hands and combinations.
In the seventh round, Inoue scored a knockdown of his own, following consecutive right hands upstairs. A seemingly worn-down Cardenas was pinned against the ropes, with Inoue unleashing a combination in the following round. Referee Thomas Taylor decided he had seen enough, as Inoue earned the TKO win.
Naoya Inoue Schools Murodjon Akhmadaliev
In September, Inoue faced former unified super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev. On paper, the Uzbekistan native posed a threat with his power. He was coming off three consecutive TKO wins, and only three of his 14 wins had gone the full distance.
However, Inoue’s speed proved to be the key element behind his precise attack. In a masterclass performance, Inoue landed 141 total punches, more than double that of Akhmadaliev’s 62 total. He went on to retain the undisputed super bantamweight championship by unanimous decision.
Naoya Inoue Closes 2025 With Another Masterclass
Last Saturday, Inoue went up against the previously undefeated David Picasso in his final outing of the year. From the early rounds, Inoue let his hands free and attacked aggressively. He controlled the pace of the fight up until the final bell.
In what was a complete mismatch, Inoue outlanded the Mexican native by a wide margin in total punches (328), to Picasso’s 170 total. Inoue retained the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, IBF, and The Ring super bantamweight titles by unanimous decision.
After a dominant 2025, the undisputed super bantamweight champion has six successful defenses under his belt. Following his win, Inoue called for a showdown against former unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani. Is a clash between two of the top pound-for-pound fighters next in 2026?
