Ringside Seat — Naoya Inoue, Mikaela Mayer and Jermall Charlo to defend titles; Anderson Silva tries boxing … again

When Naoya Inoue first began boxing as a primary grader in Japan, he had no aspiration of combating professionally, not to mention making beating individuals up a profession or changing into a world champion. He simply did it.

It was solely years later, after coaching on the similar fitness center as future three-division world champion Akira Yaegashi and sparring with him, that Inoue started to contemplate the likelihood.

“That’s once I realized what stage I used to be at,” Inoue instructed ESPN, by an interpreter. “And that’s what principally gave me that considered wanting that urge — to wish to be a world champion.”

That’s a job Inoue (20-0, 17 KO) has held for some time now, going into Saturday’s Prime Rank Boxing important occasion in opposition to Michael Dasmarinas in Las Vegas, the place he’ll defend the WBA and IBF bantamweight titles (ESPN and ESPN+, 10 p.m. ET, with prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+).

He’s held no less than one world title belt since 2014. First it was the WBC junior flyweight title, which Inoue received in opposition to Adrian Hernandez in 2014. Then it was the WBO junior bantamweight title in opposition to Omar Narvaez the identical 12 months. He held that belt for 3 years earlier than shifting as much as bantamweight, the place he’d win the WBA “common” bantamweight belt in opposition to Jamie McDonnell in 2018.

Inoue added the IBF and The Ring bantamweight titles in a second-round TKO of Emmanuel Rodriguez in 2019, and the WBA “tremendous” bantamweight title on Nov. 7, 2019 when he received an absolute struggle in opposition to Nonito Donaire within the World Boxing Tremendous Sequence remaining.

So long as he beats Dasmarinas (30-2-1, 20 KO), he stated his subsequent plan is to unify the belts at bantamweight (Donaire owns the WBC belt and John Riel Casimero the WBO title) — one thing he hopes to perform by the tip of 2023. The 28-year-old from Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan hasn’t thought a lot past that, however he’s additionally began to benefit from the consideration that comes with every combat.

He stated he’s in a position to dwell just about a standard life. When followers acknowledge him, he reciprocates the eye, nevertheless it hasn’t been too intrusive. He’s gotten comfy within the highlight as soon as he began climbing the pound-for-pound rankings.

“At first it wasn’t one thing that I used to be paying an excessive amount of consideration to,” Inoue stated. “After which swiftly I used to be No. 9 after which step by step began to make my approach up, and once I realized it, I began paying consideration a bit extra to the rankings.”

If he retains successful and retains unifying titles, that spotlight ought to develop. However Inoue tries to stay grounded. When he isn’t combating, he doesn’t have some other main hobbies. His downtime is spent at dwelling along with his household — “the time that I get pleasure from most,” he stated.

As Naoya continues to develop his identify in boxing, he hopes to construct a legacy that he and his household might be pleased with.

“Mainly,” Inoue stated. “I simply need individuals to see my boxing, and see me as an excellent boxer.” — Michael Rothstein

Full breakdown and prediction

Inoue is a large betting favourite going into Saturday evening’s combat, however Dasmarinas presents two distinctive challenges in comparison with Inoue’s opponents so far: he’s a southpaw and he’s lanky.

How will that have an effect on Inoue’s plan, and the way will he modify? Take a look at Timothy Bradley Jr.’s breakdown, which incorporates his prediction for the combat.

Mikaela Mayer: Contained in the music

Earlier than Mikaela Mayer grew to become a boxer, an Olympian and a world champion, she was a musician. Earlier than she fought in entrance of worldwide crowds and had followers chanting her identify in professional fights, she craved the power of being on a small stage throughout Warped Tour as a bassist in Lia-Fail, a hardcore metallic band. Collectively, she and Nita Strauss — then a part of Lia-Fail, and now a world famend guitarist who excursions with Alice Cooper — traveled the nation, generally taking part in the early, early set on a present in entrance of bartenders and random stragglers.

Forward of Mayer’s title protection in opposition to Erica Farias, learn the complete story, by Michael Rothstein.

By the numbers

• 3: Numbers of fights within the U.S.; second time combating in Las Vegas

• 1: 1 of 5 Japanese boxers to win titles in three totally different weight courses, and 1 of two boxers to win two bantamweight title fights by first-round stoppage (Hozumi Hasegawa)

• 85%: KO proportion, sixth-highest amongst present titleholders

• 20: Knockouts for Dasmarinas in 30 skilled fights

• 8: Variety of opponents with dropping information of the 33 that Dasmarinas has confronted

• 3: Mayer is the third member of 2016 U.S. Olympic boxing workforce to win world title (Shakur Stevenson, Claressa Shields). She’s additionally in her third straight 10-round bout.

Full card

• Title combat: Naoya Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) vs. Michael Dasmarinas (30-2-1, 20 KOs), 12 rounds, for Inoue’s IBF and WBA bantamweight titles

• Title combat: Mikaela Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) vs. Erica Farias (26-4, 10 KOs), 10 rounds, for Mayer’s WBO ladies’s junior light-weight title

• Adam Lopez (15-2, 6 KOs) vs. Isaac Dogboe (21-2, 15 KOs), 10 rounds, featherweights

• Lindolfo Delgado (11-0, 11 KOs) vs. Salvador Briceno (17-6, 11 KOs), 8 rounds, junior welterweights

• Guido Vianello (7-0-1, 7 KOs) vs. Dante Stone (5-1, 3 KOs), 6 rounds, heavyweights

• Eric Puente (5-0, 0 KOs) vs. Jose Antonio Meza (7-5, 2 KOs), 6 rounds, lightweights

• Omar Rosario (3-0, 1 KO) vs. Wilfred Mariano (3-0, 2 KOs), 4 rounds, junior welterweights

Charlo desires higher opposition

The best way Jermall Charlo flicks his left hand ahead, circles his opponent and lands convincing punches makes him look each bit just like the middleweight champion that he’s. When Charlo is at his finest, he additionally appears to be like like one of the best pure 160-pounder on this planet.

There’s only one large problem. Whereas he’s undefeated, Charlo’s string of victories haven’t included prime opponents. Juan Macias Montiel, Charlo’s foe on Saturday on the Toyota Heart in Houston, Texas (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET) additionally received’t increase Charlo’s case for middleweight supremacy.

That doesn’t imply the 31-year-old isn’t on the lookout for an opportunity to show his expertise in opposition to one other champion. Actually, he craves it.

“I need it unhealthy,” Charlo instructed ESPN. “I’ve by no means had a unification combat. That’s one thing I need. I need all of the belts within the division.”

Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KOs) is the kind of opponent that would result in a Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) showcase. Charlo desires larger fights in opposition to larger names — particularly Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin. Charlo stated GGG’s camp didn’t reply to talks a few potential unification combat. Golovkin, the IBF titleholder, as a substitute might be headed for a unification combat in opposition to WBA titlist Ryota Murata in December.

A combat in opposition to the winner, one thing Charlo desires, might be the factor to spice up his standing as one in every of boxing’s finest pound-for-pound fighters. And given Charlo’s age, the clock is ticking if he desires to maximise the potential many consider he possesses.

“In an effort to be one of the best middleweight on this planet, you gotta beat one of the best,” Charlo stated. “That’s what we’re inching ahead to doing. It’s simply little bumps within the street that we gotta hold leaping over. Montiel is one.” –Ben Child

By the numbers

• 3: Charlo is making the third protection of the WBC middleweight title he received in June 2019 when he defeated Brandon Adams

• -2500: Charlo’s odd to win per Caesars William Hill. Charlo has been the betting favourite in all of his world title fights up to now

• 22: Variety of KO victories by Montiel in the identical quantity of fights as knowledgeable

Full card

• Title combat: Jermall Charlo (31-0, 22 KOs) vs. Juan Macias Montiel (22-4-2, 22 KOs), 12 rounds, for Charlo’s WBC middleweight title

• Gabriel Maestre (3-0, 3 KOs) vs. Cody Crowley (19-0, 9 KOs), 12 rounds, welterweights

• Angelo Leo (20-1, 9 KOs) vs. Aaron Alameda (25-1, 13 KOs), 10 rounds, junior featherweights

• Isaac Cruz Gonzalez (21-1-1, 15 KOs) vs. Francisco Vargas (27-2-2, 19 KOs), 10 rounds, lightweights

• Alexis Salazar (23-3, 9 KOs) vs. Jairo Ariel Rayman (16-1-1, 7 KOs), 10 rounds, middleweights

• Richard Medina (9-0, 6 KOs) vs. Omar Castillo (6-2, 3 KOs), 8 rounds, featherweights

• Willie Jones (7-2, 4 KOs) vs. Brian Jones (15-11, 9 KOs), 6 rounds, welterweights

• Desmond Lyons (6-2, 2 KOs) vs. Jose Israel Ibarra (5-1, 2 KOs), 6 rounds, junior lightweights

Silva steps into the boxing highlight

There are a handful of different playing cards to control Saturday, together with a boxing pay-per-view from Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, that’s set to be headlined by former middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and UFC legend Anderson Silva.

Silva, the record-setting former UFC middleweight champion, takes on Chavez Jr., the son of boxing Corridor of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. — and the elder Chavez is ready to combat in an exhibition on the undercard, in opposition to one other legacy fighter, Hector Camacho Jr.

By the numbers

• 58: Totals fights as knowledgeable for Chavez Jr. (52-5-1, 34 KOs)

• 5: Loses in his final six fights after beginning his profession 46-0-1

• 2: Silva’s profession fights in boxing earlier than Saturday’s bout (1-1, 1 KO). First boxing match since 2005

• 45: Whole fights for Silva in MMA. 34-11 (17-7 in UFC, began 16-0)

• 20: UFC-record 20 important occasions for Silva. He additionally holds the report for the longest win streak in UFC historical past (16), most finishes (9) and most knockouts (7) in title fights.

Full card

• Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (52-5-1, 34 KOs) vs. Anderson Silva (1-1, 1 KO), 10 rounds, cruiserweights

• Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. vs. Hector Camacho Jr., 6 rounds, middleweight exhibition

• Omar Chavez (38-6-1, 25 KOs) vs. Ramon Alvarez (28-8-3, 16 KOs), 10 rounds, middleweights

• Damian Sosa (17-1, 10 KOs) vs. Abel Mina (13-0, 7 KOs), 10 rounds, junior middleweights

• Kevin Torres (17-1-1, 14 KOs) vs. Jorge Luis Melendez (13-7-2, 8 KOs), 8 rounds, junior welterweights

• Mario Alberto Ramirez (15-1-1, 4 KOs) vs. Pedro Castro (8-2-1, 4 KOs), 8 rounds, junior lightweights

• Jesus Acosta Ayala (15-2-1, 10 KOs) vs. Leonardo Padilla (19-3, 14 KOs), 8 rounds, junior lightweights

• Cesar Gutierrez Flores (11-0-2, 4 KOs) vs. Oscar Mejia (14-4-1, 6 KOs), 8 rounds, featherweights

• Jose Luiz Vazquez Hernandez (2-0, 1 KO) vs. Jonathan Luis Perez Zuniga (6-1, 3 KOs), 8 rounds, featherweights

• Brian Barragan Rico (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Ruben Estrella, (8-4-2, 3 KOs), 6 rounds. junior flyweights

• Erik Inzunza (7-2, 7 KOs) vs. Carlos Daniel Acosta (8-4, 5 KOs), 6 rounds, junior lightweights

• Karen Rubio (5-1, 0 KOs) vs. Estefany Alegria (1-0, 0 KOs), 4 rounds, ladies’s junior flyweights