Shingo Inoue, father and trainer of current pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue, would like to see his son hang up the gloves in the near future. His words came as a major surprise to fans, considering that less than two weeks ago the Japanese superstar delivered a world-class performance by defeating the talented and undefeated countryman Junto Nakatani on points.
Speaking to Yahoo! Japan News, Shingo said the following:
“How many more fights does he need to have? It’s about time he retire already. He can walk away cleanly while he’s still a legend and at his best. I haven’t talked to him directly about it, but honestly, how many more fights does he need? It’s enough already. He can retire suddenly while still a legend and while he’s still great.”
If Naoya were to follow his father’s advice, many fans would undoubtedly be left disappointed. The Japanese boxer always delivers tremendous entertainment whenever he steps into the ring, and he may still be capable of achieving legendary feats.
There are three realistic paths Inoue could choose from if he decides to continue his professional career. The first is a rematch with Nakatani, although that cannot happen immediately since Junto must recover from his orbital injury.
The second possibility is a showdown with outstanding American boxer Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, but that option would also require patience. Rodriguez has yet to make his debut in the bantamweight division, and his trainer Robert Garcia has stated that the young fighter will need at least two demanding bouts before moving up to super bantamweight to challenge Inoue.
The third and final option would be a move to the featherweight division in an attempt to achieve the legendary feat of becoming world champion in a fifth weight class after already winning world titles at light flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight, and super bantamweight.
Will Shingo Inoue succeed in convincing his son not to further expand his already extraordinary legacy?