Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

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Ducking Claims Make Matchroom Promoter Eddie Hearn Call For Stripping Of This Champion’s Title

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn demands Naoya Inoue’s title be stripped, stirring up controversy in the boxing world!

Jul 12, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn arrives on the red carpet before the 2023 ESPYS at the Dolby Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Boxing promoters and controversial statements fit together like a glove in hand. And when a promoter like Eddie Hearn speaks, the boxing world listens, even if they might roll their eyes. The outspoken Matchroom Boxing promoter has now set his sights on Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue, and he’s not pulling any punches.

Inoue, nicknamed “The Monster,” has been terrorizing opponents across multiple weight classes for years. With an unblemished record of 29 wins and no losses, including a jaw-dropping 26 knockouts, he’s earned his spot among boxing’s elite. His latest victory came just days ago when he demolished Ye Joon Kim, adding another highlight to his already impressive reel. But Hearn isn’t buying the hype, and he’s got some choice words about it.

Also Read: What Is Naoya Inoue’s Ethnicity? All About Naoya Inoue’s Ethnic Background

Eddie Hearn Calls For Stripping Naoya Inoue’s Super Bantamweight Title

Eddie Hearn went off on Naoya Inoue in a fiery interview with iFL TV. He called Inoue’s resume “terrible” and accused the Japanese champion of ducking tough opponents. The British promoter particularly took issue with Inoue allegedly avoiding Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1; 10 KO’s), the mandatory challenger for Inoue’s WBA super bantamweight title.

Hearn also threw some serious shade at Naoya Inoue’s recent opposition, dismissing the Kim fight as just another soft touch. Even Inoue’s impressive win over Stephen Fulton only got a grudging nod of approval from the promoter. It’s worth noting that Hearn’s concern for mandatory challengers might have something to do with Akhmadaliev being part of his Matchroom roster of fighters.

“Why should Naoya Inoue be given a pass to fight low-level opponents [Ye Joon Kim] and duck his mandatory [Akhmadaliev]? 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.”

Eddie Hearn has called for Naoya Inoue to be removed from the pound-for-pound list for “ducking” Murodjon Akhmadaliev. [@IFLTV] pic.twitter.com/t84QnqOIdw
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 26, 2025

Eddie Hearn also made some inflammatory comments that he might have to regret later. He claimed Inoue had paid off the WBA to keep avoiding Akhmadaliev, a serious accusation in the boxing world. Hearn even predicted that Inoue would rather face Alan Davis next than step up to the Akhmadaliev challenge.

Keeping emotion aside, Hearn’s outburst is a classic boxing promotion. While Inoue has faced some criticism for his recent opponent choices, calling his entire resume terrible seems like a stretch. This is a fighter who has won the undisputed world titles in two weight classes and has done so while keeping fans entertained.

(Image Credit: Kirby Lee – Imagn Images)

Eddie Hearn

Murodjon Akhmadaliev

Naoya Inoue

Ye Joon Kim

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!