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The Monster: Japanese star Inoue targeting boxing’s big time

Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue warms up before a training session at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Boxing gym chairman and former world champion Hideyuki Ohashi speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2021. Boxing gym chairman and former world champion Ohashi came up with the “kaibutsu” or “monster” moniker when Naoya Inoue turned pro. He said Inoue is a cut above any of the boxers he has seen — and he's seen quite a few. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Shingo Inoue, father of Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama Monday, Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue, left, trains at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue drinks a bottle of water during a training at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, near Tokyo Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue, left, trains at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) Japanese boxer and the WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue trains at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, near Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2021. Drawing praise as one of the best "pound for pound" active boxers around, and the best out of Asia since the legendary Manny Pacquiao, Inoue now has his eyes on the big money and American stardom. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
The Monster: Japanese star Inoue targeting boxing’s big time