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Inoue Fighter of the Year
Fighter of the Year?
Several news sources have announced Terence Crawford as their winner.
A worthy choice for sure.
Crawford defeated Canelo Álvarez last September in Nevada. Crawford moved up two weight divisions to challenge Alvarez. Many figured that the former undisputed three-weight champion, who won the lightweight title in 2014, was biting off more than he could chew.
Nope.
Crawford outworked and outfoxed Alvarez over 12 rounds in the biggest boxing event of the year. He retired last month undefeated in 42 fights.
Worthy but…
I’m old school.
I like activity.
Crawford fought once in 2025.
There was another fighter who fought four times in 2025, dominantly winning all of them.
He’s the undisputed super-bantamweight champion with the best nickname in boxing.
Naoya “The Monster” Inoue is 32-0 with 27 knockouts. He whipped Ye Joon Kim, Ramon Cardenas, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, and, last week, David Picasso.
Inoue stopped Joon Kim to get his year off to a rip-roaring start.
Up next was Cardenas, who was tough and rugged. Inoue was floored in round two when he ran into a counter left hook. Inoue signaled to his corner that he was ok. Big underdog Cardenas had come to Las Vegas to win, and let fly with hooks to the body and head. Inoue countered with quick and vicious bodywork. His combination punching was flawless and precise.
Inoue knocked Cardenas down in round seven and stopped him a few minutes later.
Last September, Inoue met former super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The guy entered the fight with some pop, but Inoue overwhelmed him with hand speed and accuracy.
Inoue boxed undefeated Picasso a few days after Christmas.
As usual, he was active and accurate. Pacheco had no answers.
Naoya Inoue is Maxboxing Fighter of the Year for 2025
