Terence Crawford on Naoya Inoue sees ‘Bud’ make a big claim on him and shows huge confidence in him to say the least.
Crawford is backing the man from Japan to the hills and is doing the same for Japan and Japanese boxing lately as well it looks like.
During the week Crawford started his own boxing promotion in Japan that aims to bring American boxers to Japan and more moving forward.
Crawford has said now he believes Inoue can become a five weight world champion now and go up to featherweight even to win a world title.
Some points to note:
- Crawford was joined by Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Usyk in achieving 4-weight status
- Inoue is a four-weight champion with titles at 108, 115, 118, and 122 pounds
- Crawford was 40-0 with 31 KOs and a three-division titleholder as of 2023
- Crawford became a two-weight undisputed champion by beating Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023
- Inoue became a double undisputed champion by stopping Marlon Tapales in 10 rounds in December 2023
- Inoue was 26-0 with 23 KOs in July 2023 and is 31-0 with 27 KOs per 2025 reports
- Both are current or former pound for pound number ones (Inoue and Crawford)
- For Inoue to become a 5-weight champ he needs a title at 126 featherweight — that’s a big ask.
Does Inoue have the frame to go up to featherweight?
Possibly, but he would need the fight fight.
He has the hand speed and would bring some power up surely with him bringing up the speed and not having to drain himself to make weight as much.
Something for him to think about after the big Nakatani win as well recently.
Where Inoue defeating Junto Nakatani in a super fight in Japan setting the 4th highest gate record in boxing history.
