Naoya Inoue

Naoya Inoue is a Japanese professional boxer and four-division world champion. He became the first boxer to unify the four principal bantamweight titles in the four-belt era and later became undisputed at junior featherweight, making him the second male boxer to achieve four-belt undisputed status in two divisions.

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About Naoya Inoue

Profile information current to 2026-08-18.

Japan · Professional boxer · 1 affiliation

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Also known as: The Monster
Known for: Multi-division world championship boxing; Four-belt undisputed championship boxing; Bantamweight and junior-featherweight boxing
Country: Japan

Professional boxer

At a glance

Inoue has won major world championships at light flyweight, junior bantamweight, bantamweight, and junior featherweight.
He became the four-belt undisputed champion at both bantamweight and junior featherweight.
As of August 18, 2026, sanctioning-body materials listed him as the WBA Super, WBC, IBF, and WBO champion at 122 pounds.
The Boxing Writers Association of America named him its 2023 Fighter of the Year and identified him as the award's first Japanese recipient.

Background and entry into boxing

Inoue was born on April 10, 1993, in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture. His official biography says he began boxing in the first grade of elementary school and won seven high-school-level boxing titles. He made his professional debut in October 2012 and won the WBC light-flyweight championship in his sixth professional bout.

Championship career

After winning his first world title at light flyweight, Inoue added championships at junior bantamweight and bantamweight. In December 2022, he stopped Paul Butler to become the four-belt undisputed bantamweight champion. He moved up to junior featherweight in 2023, won the WBC and WBO titles, and then defeated Marlon Tapales to add the WBA and IBF belts and become undisputed in a second division.

Standing and wider significance

Inoue's four-belt unifications made him the first undisputed bantamweight champion of that era and the second male boxer, after Terence Crawford, to become undisputed in two divisions. The Boxing Writers Association of America selected him as its 2023 Fighter of the Year. Following his May 2026 decision victory over Junto Nakatani, The Ring continued to recognize him as the undisputed junior-featherweight champion and subsequently placed him first in its pound-for-pound assessment.

Affiliations

Ohashi Boxing Gym Boxer present

Timeline

2012-10-02 Made his professional debut, stopping Crison Omayao in the fourth round at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
2014-04-06 Stopped Adrian Hernandez in the sixth round to win the WBC light-flyweight title, his first major world championship.
2022-12-13 Stopped Paul Butler in the eleventh round to add the WBO belt and become the four-belt undisputed bantamweight champion.
2023-07-25 Stopped Stephen Fulton in the eighth round to win the WBC and WBO junior-featherweight titles and become a four-division world champion.
2023-12-26 Knocked out Marlon Tapales in the tenth round to add the WBA and IBF junior-featherweight titles and become undisputed in a second division.
2026-05-02 Defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision at Tokyo Dome, retaining the undisputed junior-featherweight championship.

Additional verified details

Current context

Inoue is listed as the WBA Super, WBC, IBF, and WBO champion at 122 pounds and is recognized as the undisputed junior-featherweight champion. The latest located sanctioning-body materials were WBC and WBO ratings from July 2026 and WBA ratings from May 2026. The WBA listed a separate interim champion while identifying Inoue as its Super Champion.
His latest verified professional record is 33 wins, no losses, and 27 knockouts. This record is based on his official profile and the latest located fight result, against Junto Nakatani.
Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision at Tokyo Dome, with scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113, retaining his undisputed and Ring junior-featherweight titles.
The Ring regarded Inoue as the world's leading pound-for-pound boxer following his victory over Nakatani. Pound-for-pound rankings are editorial assessments and can change independently of championship results.

Biographical facts

Born on April 10, 1993, in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
His official biography states that he began boxing in the first grade of elementary school and won seven high-school-level boxing titles.
He has won major world championships at light flyweight, junior bantamweight, bantamweight, and junior featherweight.
Inoue was the second male boxer, after Terence Crawford, to become an undisputed champion in two divisions during the four-belt era.
The Boxing Writers Association of America named Inoue its 2023 Fighter of the Year and identified him as the first Japanese boxer to receive the award.