October 27, 2015
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
WBO junior bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (8-0, 7 KOs), a Japanese sensation worldwide, acquired his second world belt by demolishing highly regarded Omar Narvaez in his only eighth professional bout last December, but had his hand badly hurt to be obliged to take nearly ten months for recovery. Inoue, still 22, has attended the WBO convention in Orlando FL to receive a warm welcome by many attendants. Some reporters have made interviews to the young champ, as follows:
Q: Welcome to the convention. How is your hand? Have you already recovered from the injury?
A: My hand is 100% all right. No problem.
Q: Please remember your fight with Omar Narvaez, and what’s your memory on the title-winning fight?
A: Everything went well with our fight plane. As I respected Narvaez, it was my great pleasure to be able to fight him.
Q: Did you expect such a quick second round knockout?
A: No, I expected a much tougher fight. I was fortunate to score a quick victory over such an experienced champion.
Q: Former champion Narvaez scored a comeback victory over Diego Luis Pichardo this October, and may fight again this coming December prior to a contracted revancha (rematch) with you. How’s your confidence in the second meeting with Omar?
A: If I successfully retain my belt against the top contender Warlito Parenas on December 29, I am more than willing to fight Narvaez again.
Q: Next time Narvaez may be more careful since he was a little careless against you because of his overconfidence. What do you think?
A: I wish to improve more before my rematch with him.
Q: How’s your preparation and confidence for your next defense against Warlito Parenas?
A: He is a hard-puncher with his great amateur career for some 200 contests. I’ll be careful against his power punching.
Q: You have met Mr. Ed Brophy, the president of IBHOF (International Boxing Hall of Fame) to be encouraged by him. Do you have a dream to be a Hall-of-Famer in the future?
A: I sincerely hope so. But I’ll devote all myself to my next fight.
Q: You know, you have a formidable rival named Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, WBC flyweight champion. Don’t you have an intention of moving down to the 112-pound category to fight him?
A: No, physically it’s impossible for me to go down to the flyweight category. Should I face Gonzalez, it’ll be a fight with my junior bantamweight belt at stake.
Q: Gonzalez is 44-0, while you are only 8-0. Don’t you feel the difference of ring experience?
A: Yes, I need not rush myself to my confrontation with Romagon (Chocolatito is called “Romagon” in an abbreviated fashion in Japan).
Q: How soon will you materialize the fight with Romagon?
A: After this coming title defense with Parenas, if successful, I wish to fight three times next year, and then hope to meet Romagon.
Q: If so, the Inoue-Gonzalez superfight will take place in 2017, right?
A: I hope so, as I wish to concentrate on one by one.
Q: Do you wish to move up and win the 118-pound and 122-pound belts in the future?
A: Yes, I do. But it is a future story, and I hope to win in my next bout.
Q: Aren’t you be surprised to see you so well-known among WBO people here at the convention?
A: I’m happy that people know me like this. I wish to keep on winning to defend my WBO belt steadily. I simply thank for my manager/promoter and formerly two-time world champion Hideyuki Ohashi’s handling as well as people’s warm supports to me. I also appreciate the WBO having giving a special allowance for my hand’s complete recovery.
Q: Good luck for your bright future.
A: Arigato Gozaimasu (thank you very much in Japanese).
(10-27-2015)