Naoya Inoue v Murodjon Akhmadaliev locked in for September 14

Super-bantamweight king Naoya Inoue has confirmed a Tokyo homecoming for September 14, with the dangerous Uzbekistani Murodjon Akhmadaliev set to face the Japanese pound-for-pound star in an enthralling showdown.

Inoue, of course, first needs to take care of Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas in the early hours of Monday morning, before turning his attentions towards a far more intriguing dust-up later in the year.

The 32-year-old, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, will put his undisputed championship on the line against Cardenas, who has been rewarded for his rise up the 122lbs list with a lucrative showdown against the Asian superstar.

Inoue is expected to come through this weekend's affair unscathed to set-up the Akhmadaliev bout, which Matchroom's Eddie Hearn confirmed on social media on Friday.

Done deal, finally! Uzbek Power vs. The Monster. Best fight in the division

- Eddie Hearn (Instagram)

The late summer showdown with Akhmadaliev will represent the third time the undisputed star will have fought this calendar year, and keeps him on track for a four fight haul in 2025 - an ambitious plan which was set out by promoter Hideyuki Ohashi late last year.

For Akhmadaliev, the two-year long WBA mandatory challenger, the fight is one that has been a long time in coming.

He was twice ordered by the governing body to lock horns with 'The Monster' in 2023, only for Inoue to avoid making an obligatory defence against the Uzbekistani in favour of more glamorous affairs with Luis Nery and TJ Doheny.

Since stopping Doheny in the seventh round of their clash last year, Inoue has subsequently beaten Ye Joon Kim, in January, whilst he will, this weekend, face Cardenas at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas.

Mark Mothershaw

• • 
  •