YOKOHAMA, Japan -- One of the pound-for-pound best will put his WBA "regular" bantamweight title on the line on Oct. 7, with the fight streaming live on DAZN. That fighter, currently ranked ninth pound-for-pound by Big Time Boxing is Naoya Inoue (16-0, 14 KOs). Challenging for his title will be former champion Juan Carlos Payano (20-1, 9 KOs) in the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Super Series.
Known as 'Monster,' Inoue hails from Japan and is just 25 years old. He fights out of the orthodox stance and has shown tremendous power in both hands. Inoue works behind a nice up and down jab and does a nice job of working his power punches upstairs and to the body as well. Those power punches come in the form of a punishing left hook and a heavy right hand. He also has a great sense of when he has an opponent hurt and is skillful at going in for the kill and finishing the job.
Although he's still very young Inoue has already dispatched some good veterans as if they were journeymen. In 2014 he destroyed Omar Narvaez with a body shot knockout and in his last fight he easily handled champion Jamie McDonnell, stopping him in the opening round. He's also beaten other solid fighters along the way and while he just moved up to the bantamweight division, one can't help but look ahead to the stacked junior featherweight division for some future opponents for 'Monster' but he needs to handle business against Payano first.
Payano is a veteran who fights out of the southpaw stance. He stays busy with a measuring stick jab and he can be explosive with his combinations because of his excellent hand speed. One of his best punches is his straight left hand and he loves to stick that punch to the belly of his opponents. Payano does tend to get wild with his punches though and because he will sometimes really unload with his combinations he finds himself out of position and gets punished for it. The Dominican veteran could find himself in trouble against Inoue mainly due to the fact that he isn't very good defensively and has been dropped a few times in his career, including against the light-hitting Rau'shee Warren.
Perhaps the best years of Payano's career came between 2014 and 2016. In that stretch he beat Anselmo Moreno and then Rau'shee Warren in what was a very close fight. Payano then lost to Warren by majority decision in their rematch both those two fights remain the highest profile of his career. If Payano were able to slay 'Monster' it would be a huge statement and would help propel his career to the next level.
Payano has the hand speed to both any opponent he steps in the ring against. However, his lack of defensive skills and his propensity to exchange leather could be his downfall against a massive puncher like Inoue. Payano is also at a reach disadvantage so it won't be easy for him to jab his way on. Look for Inoue to start this fight very patiently. He might even give a few of the early rounds away because he knows he has the eraser. After a few slow rounds to start the fight expect Inoue to start stepping on the gas and catching Payano more easily.
PREDICTION: Juan Carlos Payano is a good fighter with some nice tools. He isn't great defensively though and Naoya Inoue will take full advantage of that. Once Inoue starts to land his power punches it won't be long before the fight ends and he will knock Payano out in the sixth round.
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| Inoue punishing the body |
Although he's still very young Inoue has already dispatched some good veterans as if they were journeymen. In 2014 he destroyed Omar Narvaez with a body shot knockout and in his last fight he easily handled champion Jamie McDonnell, stopping him in the opening round. He's also beaten other solid fighters along the way and while he just moved up to the bantamweight division, one can't help but look ahead to the stacked junior featherweight division for some future opponents for 'Monster' but he needs to handle business against Payano first.
Payano is a veteran who fights out of the southpaw stance. He stays busy with a measuring stick jab and he can be explosive with his combinations because of his excellent hand speed. One of his best punches is his straight left hand and he loves to stick that punch to the belly of his opponents. Payano does tend to get wild with his punches though and because he will sometimes really unload with his combinations he finds himself out of position and gets punished for it. The Dominican veteran could find himself in trouble against Inoue mainly due to the fact that he isn't very good defensively and has been dropped a few times in his career, including against the light-hitting Rau'shee Warren.
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| Payano stinging Rau'shee Warren with a sharp jab |
Payano has the hand speed to both any opponent he steps in the ring against. However, his lack of defensive skills and his propensity to exchange leather could be his downfall against a massive puncher like Inoue. Payano is also at a reach disadvantage so it won't be easy for him to jab his way on. Look for Inoue to start this fight very patiently. He might even give a few of the early rounds away because he knows he has the eraser. After a few slow rounds to start the fight expect Inoue to start stepping on the gas and catching Payano more easily.
PREDICTION: Juan Carlos Payano is a good fighter with some nice tools. He isn't great defensively though and Naoya Inoue will take full advantage of that. Once Inoue starts to land his power punches it won't be long before the fight ends and he will knock Payano out in the sixth round.
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