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Fights We Want to Bet on: When Will We See Tank vs Inoue?
Unfortunately, the question ‘When will we see Tank vs Inoue’ should replace the word ‘When’ with ‘If,’ because this potential Superfight that has been a dream scenario topic of conversation for boxing purists for some time would require a lot of moving pieces actually to come to fruition.
We have two pound-for-pound greats in Gervonta Davis and Naoya Inoue. Their similar size makes for some potentially intriguing pay-per-view numbers, and BetUS providing boxing betting odds would certainly have a difficult time lining moneyline prices. But how close are we to “Tank” and “Monster” throwing down, if at all?
If Anyone Can Make Tank vs Inoue Happen, It’s Turki Alalshikh
The newest face of boxing promotion, your Excellency Turki Alalshikh, has already bridged gaps in the sport and put on some of the biggest fights in 2023 and 2024. And when it comes to Inoue and ‘Tank,’ he’s already had eyes on this potential mega-fight.
Of course, it will take a lot of smooth talk and tens of millions of dollars to get ‘Monster’ to step up and fight ‘Tank.’
“If they reach the right weight and give us the right proposal, we can deliver it,” Your Excellency told Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour YouTube channel.
And this is precisely what the major and first stumbling block would be… weight!
Turki Alalshikhs dream fights .
Tyson Fury vs Joshua
Canelo vs Crawford
Benavidez vs winner Bivol Beterbiev
Tank Davis vs Inoue pic.twitter.com/LWWTRXDV8j— William Boxing🥊 🇲🇽 🇺🇸 (@boxing_william) May 16, 2024
‘Tank’ Davis Isn’t Dropping, and Inoue Is Comfortable
Personally, if I stare too long at a box of Krispy Cremes, I will gain 5 pounds. However, in elite-level boxing, going up weight classes can drastically change a fighter’s potential, damage reputations, and lower their pulling power.
We know Davis isn’t moving to 126 or 122 pounds, as this would force a level of depletion that would be too damming. It’s going to be 130 or bust to get ‘Tank’ to fight Inoue, which leaves the latter as the man who must dictate whether or not this fight ever surfaces.
The four-division Japanese superstar currently dominates the super bantamweight rankings and would need to add eight, or even ten pounds, to gain a potential clash with Davis. However, many critics hold the sentiment that comfortability will prevent Inoue from stepping up to featherweight, a weight class that holds several potential matchups, including ‘Tank,’ which are nightmare matchups.
It’s speculated how Inoue’s walk-around weight is actually beyond 140, and he seems more than capable of stepping up. But while he’s more than capable, we should be asking whether he’s actually willing.
Inoue has been relishing his position versus lower-level opponents in the lower-weight cases, and a meeting with ‘Tank’ would place him versus an actual savage of the sweet science for the first time in his career. With a comfortable position at 122 lbs, would Inoue even consider putting his legacy on the line?
Check out the latest boxing betting lines here.
Bob Arum: “Now Sometimes he(Turki) gets ahead of himself…like (fighters fighting from)different weight classes. Like, he wanted my great Japanese star Naoya Inoue to fight Tank Davis. Davis is like twice Inoue’s size”#Boxing
🥊🥊🥊🥊🎥: @NajiChill pic.twitter.com/fpxwR33oaE
— Danny (@dantheboxingman) June 19, 2024
The Benefits for Inoue at 130/132lbs: Fame and Fortune
There seems to be insurmountable pressure on Inoue to move up, and while this benefits us as fans, what does it actually do for the man himself? Simply put, fame and fortune. Bucket-loads of cash await the Japanese G.O.A.T in America or Saudi Arabia, far more than he could make in Japan, not to mention that his stock of beating the more high-profile names would skyrocket.
It would, however, take some serious balls to face this new realm of talent, and it’s completely understandable if Inoue remains at Super Bantamweight.
Fans will forever claim Inoue ducked the biggest fights if he doesn’t move up, and this pressure could very well force the move. But the reality is, that same sentiment from critics would remain if his unbeaten record stayed intact until he reached middleweight because people don’t want the move; they want to see the loss.
NAOYA INOUE. THE MONSTAH. #InoueNery pic.twitter.com/9DelM0lpDF
— Connoisseur of Combat (@ConOfCombat) May 6, 2024
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Do Betting Fans Want Inoue at 130 or Inoue to Lose?
Everyone wants ‘Monster’ to move up and lose and let me explain why. He began life as a career 108-pounder, went to flyweight, then to bantamweight. He then became undisputed at 118 lbs, replicating said success at 122 lbs. This is five weight classes and a plethora of titles across all divisions… So, please tell me how much more weight hopping the man needs to do to finally get some respect.
Inoue vs. Tank Davis may never happen, but if it does, the Japanese multi-division unified titleholder should receive a one-of-a-kind medal for his services. ‘Monster’ has moved up significantly more and unified divisions on more than one occasion. We could argue he’s the pound-for-pound No.1 and has done more than any other active fighter in all weight classes combined.
Let’s remove the pressure, respect Inoue’s dominance, and be grateful if he decides to defy boxing betting lines, move weight classes again, and, in turn, risk it all for us, the fans.
Questions of the Day
Why is Naoya Inoue So Good?
Japan’s Naoya Inoue has claimed world championship status in four weight classes and is the only male boxer – after Terence Crawford – to collect undisputed status in two of those divisions.
