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What’s next for Naoya Inoue? The two division undisputed champion has achieved everything in the super bantamweight division, so many speculate its time for him to move up in weight. Something which might not be as far-fetched, especially after he was spotted on the street of New York City looking like a tank.

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The Japanese ‘Monster’ was ringside during the Bruce Carrington vs. Brayan De Gracia fight in Madison Square Garden Theater, New York. But who would have thought a picture of him from his visit to the Big Apple would go viral and spark a huge conversation among fans?

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Downtime or big plans? 

Hours earlier, Boxing Kingdom hopped on X to share the picture in question. In it, Inoue can be seen walking through streets of NYC alongside his team member, visibly heavier than usual. They captioned the picture, “Naoya Inoue looks like a heavyweight walking around New York City!”

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While it’s possible that Inoue was enjoying some downtime, not worrying about his weight. However, moving up seems like the obvious next step for the boxer from the land of the rising sun. Discovering the picture on the platform, fans quickly took to the comment section to express their thoughts.

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Fans demand Naoya Inoue vs. Gervonta Davis

Despite keeping his fights limited to Japan, Inoue’s popularity has exploded in the states, so it shouldn’t really be a surprise that fans flooded in with their remarks. One user suggested that Inoue looks 150-pounds in the picture, meaning he can’t avoid a fight against Gervonta Davis. Both boxers are considered the best, and many have asked for a fight between them for the longest time.

Another user thought Inoue wasn’t really bigger, rather it was the kind of the shirt he was wearing that made him look bigger. Shirt or not, Inoue does seem a bit on the bulkier side.

The next user hoped and prayed Inoue would move up to featherweight. This will give him a fresh set of opponents and yet another division to conquer.

Meanwhile, this user disagreed with others, suggesting the ‘Monster’ still looked smaller. 

Someone else again brought up Gervonta Davis, highlighting how much people would like to see the duo throw it down. But the sad truth is, that fight might be years away.

Whether because of downtime or genuine plans to move up in weight, Inoue’s surprise appearance in New York seems to have sent fans over the moon with possibilities for the future. However, only time will tell what Naoya Inoue does next! Do you think the ‘Monster’ looks bigger?

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Written by

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Sudeep Sinha

4,781 Articles

Sudeep Sinha is a Golf Writer at EssentiallySports, covering the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and the storylines around the sport's biggest events and names. He previously spent over two years writing in the Boxing department, where his fight-night coverage was featured on Sports Illustrated, Daily Mail, and Yahoo Sports, including his reporting on Ryan Garcia's career arc. On the golf beat, Sudeep covers tour news, player form, and the season-long storylines that shape the men's and women's game, from majors to the ongoing shifts in how professional golf is structured. That same appetite for detail that made his boxing coverage stand out now shows up in how he breaks down a swing change or a schedule shakeup for hardcore and casual fans alike. Outside work, he splits his time between reading, cycling, and following combat sports.

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Snigdhaa Jaiswal

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