Former Naoya Inoue knockout victim TJ Doheny says Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis would be too much for the Japanese star if the two fought at 135.
Boxing fans have been pushing Inoue to move up to super featherweight (130) or lightweight (135) to face Tank Davis in a blockbuster mega-fight to prove who is the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the sport.
Inoue didn’t follow the program, choosing to stay rooted to the spot at 122, feasting on the opposition in this dead, lifeless division. He hasn’t shown any motivation to move up to 126 to fight the dangerous featherweights, and obviously moving up to 130 or 135 isn’t happening either.
Naoya needs a suit head transplant putting the brain of one of the brave warriors of the past into his body to give him the bold risk-taking we’ve seen in greats like Muhammad Ali. It would be interesting to see Inoue move up two weight classes to 130 to meet Tank Davis halfway at Super Featherweight as a catchweight for them to prove who is the top dog in the sport.
Doheny believes there is too much weight and size separating Tank Davis (30-0, 28 KO) and Inoue (29-0, 26 KO) for “Monster” to have a chance. Doheny, originally from Ireland, believes 126 is Naoya’s upper “ceiling” for what he is capable of doing in the sport.
Inoue’s ceiling
“Tank is an absolute dog, but if they were in the same weight class it would be a tough fight. But there is too much difference. I think 126 is Inoue’s ceiling, really,” TJ Doheny told Professional boxing fans when asked if Naoya Inoue would have a chance against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis if he moved up to 135 to fight him.
It’s a shame Inoue will never buy into this idea because it would be fun to see him and Tank fighting for the top spot in the sport. Fans aren’t interested in seeing Inoue beat fighters like Ye Joon Kim, Doheny, Sam Goodman and Luis Nery.
