Inoue's Next Fight Date Set: The Monster Takes on Akhmadaliev in September Championship Clash

Japan’s boxing superstar Naoya Inoue has confirmed his next fight date for September 14, 2025, as he prepares to defend his undisputed junior featherweight crown against Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The highly anticipated title showdown will take place at IG Arena in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, with the main event commencing at 4:00 a.m. ET. Fans in Japan can stream the action through Lemino, while Australian viewers have access via Kayo PPV. Unfortunately, no US broadcast has been scheduled at this time.

The Champion’s Perfect Record on the Line

Inoue arrives at this Naoya Inoue next fight date with an unblemished 30-0-0 professional record, holding the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring titles simultaneously. His challenger, Akhmadaliev, enters the ring with a respectable 14-1-0 record, making this a significant opportunity for the Uzbek contender to claim undisputed status in the 122-pound division.

Championship Bouts Throughout the Card

The September 14 event features three title fights in total. Below the main event, Yoshiki Takei will defend the WBO bantamweight title against Christian Medina over 12 rounds, while Yuni Takada challenges for the vacant WBA “regular” strawweight crown against Ryusei Matsumoto. The undercard includes several promising matchups: Yudai Murakami versus Taiga Imanaga (10 rounds, lightweight), Ei Go facing Shunpei Ohata (8 rounds, junior lightweight), Toshiki Shimomachi meeting Han Sol Lee (8 rounds, junior featherweight), and Taisei Ayano battling Yusuke Nawa (4 rounds, bantamweight).

Inoue’s Road to Undisputed Status

The 32-year-old “Monster” captured his first major title in April 2014 with a knockout victory over Adrián Hernández for the WBC light flyweight belt. Since then, Inoue has strategically fought exclusively for titles, compiling an impressive 24-0 record with 22 knockouts in championship bouts. His journey through multiple weight divisions showcases his versatility and dominance. After seven WBO junior bantamweight title reigns and nine battles at bantamweight where he claimed the WBA, IBF, and WBC crowns, Inoue moved to junior featherweight in July 2023. He captured the WBC and WBO titles in his debut at 122 pounds by stopping Stephen Fulton in the eighth round. His undisputed status arrived in December 2023 when he knocked out Marlon Tapales in the 10th round. Since then, Inoue has successfully defended these titles against Luis Nery, TJ Doheny, Kim Ye-joon, and most recently Ramon Cardenas in May 2025 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The ESPN rankings list Inoue as the No. 2 fighter in the boxing world.

Akhmadaliev’s Quest for Glory

At 30 years old, Akhmadaliev currently holds the No. 3 position in ESPN’s junior featherweight rankings. The Uzbek fighter earned his WBA and IBF titles in January 2020 through a split decision against Daniel Roman, defending them three times between 2021 and 2022. His title reign ended in April 2023 when Marlon Tapales narrowly defeated him in San Antonio. Since that setback, Akhmadaliev has rebounded with three consecutive victories, including an eighth-round stoppage of Luis Castillo in Mexico during May 2025.

Fighters’ Pre-Fight Commentary

Akhmadaliev expressed confidence regarding this opportunity, stating to The Ring: “I have worked very hard to be in this position, and I will show the best version of myself on fight night. I feel like I will be in the best shape of my career heading into this fight. I can hurt anyone with my punches, and I believe in my power, and I can deliver it, too.”

The Uzbek challenger believes the 122-pound weight class favors his style, noting that Inoue faced difficulties against Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas at this weight. “He was untouchable at the lower weights, and I think his struggles are due to the weight of 122 pounds,” Akhmadaliev explained. “He’s fighting tougher and bigger guys. That gives him issues. This is my weight class.”

Regarding knockout potential, Akhmadaliev remarked: “If either one of us gets caught with a clean punch, the knockout will be there. If we exchange and fight in an all-in fight, then the knockout is definitely going to happen.”

Inoue, meanwhile, downplayed concerns about Akhmadaliev’s physical attributes. “I definitely don’t think I’m inferior in terms of overall strength. The only thing you could say that is intimidating about Akhmadaliev is his physicality and power,” Inoue stated during the Tokyo press conference on July 10. He emphasized his strategic approach: “The theme I have in mind for this fight is to win in whatever way I can. I’m not insisting that I win by KO, my only goal is to win.”

This championship encounter promises to deliver compelling action as the undisputed junior featherweight title remains at stake on September 14.