Both boxers fight this weekend in a huge weekend for the sport and both claim to be ‘The Monster’ of boxing.
Both are high level world champion caliber fighters in boxing.
Inoue of Japan would be considered one of the best pound for pound boxers in the sport at the moment.
For those new to the sport who may not have heard about either of them, both fight this weekend – Benavidez takes on Gilberto Ramirez in a world cruiserweight title fight.
Inoue takes on Junto Nakatani in a super fight and a world title fight in Japan.
Here’s more info on both for those that don’t know of either.
Naoya “The Monster” Inoue
The Japanese pound-for-pound king who started at 108 lbs
- Perfect record: 32-0 with 27 KOs — that’s an 87% knockout rate. When he hits you, you usually don’t get up.
- Four-weight world champion: Won world titles at light flyweight 108 lbs, super flyweight 115 lbs, bantamweight 118 lbs, and now undisputed super bantamweight 122 lbs.
- First male undisputed champ in two divisions in 4-belt era: He went undisputed at 118 lbs in Dec 2022, then moved up and went undisputed at 122 lbs in Dec 2023. Only Terence Crawford has done it too.
- Active legend: In 2025 he became the first man in 42 years to defend The Ring title 4 times in one calendar year. Last guy was Larry Holmes in 1983.
- Pound-for-pound #2: The Ring Magazine ranks Inoue #2 pound-for-pound in the world. Many trainers call him #1.
- Why “The Monster”? He’s called that because he breaks opponents with body shots and ends fights violently. Fans joke “BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR” when you call him out.
- Knocked out every major belt holder: He’s the first fighter in the 4-belt era to become undisputed by KO/TKO’ing every single titleholder.
- Biggest fight in Japanese history coming: Inoue vs Junto Nakatani is set for Tokyo Dome in May 2026. Both are 32-0.
- Started tiny: He turned pro at 108 lbs/light flyweight and kept his power all the way up to 122 lbs.
- Showman + brawler: He told press “everybody’s very much aware that I like to brawl”. But he’s also technical — trainer Rudy Hernandez says “he goes in there with intentions of hurting people”.
🇺🇸 David “The Monster” Benavidez
The 6’2″ Mexican-American pressure fighter nicknamed “El Bandera Roja”
- Also perfect: 31-0 with 25 KOs. At 168 lbs and 175 lbs, that KO power is scary.
- Youngest super middleweight champ ever: Won the WBC title at 20 years old by beating Ronald Gavril in 2017.
- Two-time champ at 168 lbs: Held the WBC super middleweight title twice 2017-2018 and 2019-2020.
- Moved up and conquered: Beat Oleksandr Gvozdyk in June 2024 for the WBC interim light heavyweight title, then beat David Morrell in Feb 2025 for the WBA Regular title.
- Just defended at 175: Beat Anthony Yarde by TKO in Nov 2025 to retain WBC + WBA belts. First defense of his full WBC title.
- Big frame, big output: Stands 6’2″ / 188cm with 74.5″ reach. Fights tall but throws 150 punches in a fight.
- Beat elite names: 5-0 against current/former champs: Anthony Dirrell, David Lemieux, Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade, Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
- “The Monster” + “Red Flag”: Alias is “The Monster” but also “El Bandera Roja/Red Flag” because of his all-action style.
- Almost no amateur career: Only 15-0 as an amateur. His dad trained him pro-style since he was 13 and 250 lbs.
- Chased Canelo for years: Was WBC interim champ at 168 and 175 trying to force a Canelo Alvarez fight. Now making his own path at light heavyweight.
Why new fans should care
- Inoue = If you like speed, precision, and body-snatching KOs from a smaller fighter who moves up and dominates. Think “Manny Pacquiao meets Mike Tyson”.
- Benavidez = If you like relentless pressure, high volume, and a big guy who breaks opponents down over rounds. He walks you down like a “monster playing with his food”.
Both are unbeaten — both called “The Monster” — and both are problems for anyone in their weight class.
Here’s info on the David Benavidez vs Gilberto Ramirez fight time worldwide this weekend.
