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Nick Parkinson
Naoya Inoue will attempt to become undisputed world bantamweight champion when he faces Paul Butler at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Dec.13.
IBF, WBA and WBC bantamweight champion Inoue is one of the best and most exciting boxers in the world and is reportedly keen on moving up a weight division.
But before he moves to junior featherweight, Inoue — known as the ‘Monster’ — wants to win Butler’s WBO belt.
Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs), 29, from Kanagawa, Japan is a three-weight world champion who produced a stunning performance in the stoppage of Nonito Donaire in June.
Inoue is No. 2 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings and will start the fight a big favourite in front of his home fans, as he bids to become an undisputed world champion for the first time in his career.
Butler (34-2, 15 KOs), from Cheshire, England, won the WBO interim title in April with a unanimous points victory over Jonas Sultan and was then upgraded to full champion after John Riel Casimero was stripped of the belt.
“I’ve been boxing for over 20 years and all the successes and setbacks have led me here, to the biggest fight of my career, with the biggest prize in the sport on offer,” Butler said.
“I am under no illusions as to the size of the task that faces me, but I have been going to bed dreaming of becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.
“Inoue is a phenomenal fighter but not one person should be underestimating me, my skills, or my resolve. I am going to Japan to write my name into the history of our sport.”
The event will be promoted by Ohashi Promotion and Teiken Promotions in association with Probellum, it was announced Thursday.