Naoya "Monster" Inoue is an undefeated, undisputed champion in the bantam and super bantam divisions of professional boxing. The Japanese is the world's second best active boxer, only second to Terence Crawford in the pound-for-pound world rankings as of May 2024.
He only ever suffered six losses in his combined amateur and professional career, including a record of 75-6 throughout his amateur career; 48 of his 75 amateur victories and 23 of his 26 professional victories as "The Monster" were by knockout, a compliment to his remarkable punching power with KO percentages of 88.46% and 90.4%.
He was the first boxer in the four-belt era to hold the undisputed bantam championship from 2019 to 2023. He has also won the WBO Junior Bantam title (2014–2018) and the WBC Light Flyweight title (2014).
He won the WBA, IBF, and The Ring Super Bantam titles after his most recent 10th round KO win over Marlon Tapales in December 2023, making history as the first boxer to accomplish this feat in the super bantam class. The Monsters is scheduled to fight Luis Nery, aka Pantera, on May 6, 2024, in Tokyo, Japan, for the IBF World, WBA Super World, WBC World, and WBO World Super Bantam titles.
Naoya Inoue’s Parents
Naoya Inoue is the elder son of Shingo and Miho Inoue, born on April 10, 1993, in Zama, Kanagawa, Japan. His younger brother, Takuma Inoue, is also a professional boxer. Shingo, Naoya's mentor and father, was born on September 27, 1980, in Hachioji, Tokyo, and was an amateur boxer. He has competed in marathons and ultramarathons, winning the 2010 IAU 24-Hour Run World Championship and the International Tour de Taiwan Ultramarathon in April 2013.
His personal best for a full marathon is 2:29:12 at the Katsuta Marathon in 2013, and for a 100-kilometer marathon, it is 07:02:05 at the Lake Saroma Ultramarathon in 2011. Unfortunately, little information is known about his mother, Miho; nonetheless, she has no professional association with sports in general.
Naoya Inoue’s Siblings
Naoya Inoue’s three-year younger brother, Takuma, was born on December 26, 1995. He is also a professional boxer, having previously held the WBC Interim Bantamweight title from 2018 to 2019 and currently holding the WBA Bantamweight title since early 2023.
As of May 2024, he is ranked No. 5 by The Ring and has a nearly perfect record, with 19 wins, five by knockout (26%), and 14 by decision, with only one loss in 20 fights. Takuma's most recent bout was against Jerwin Ancajas in February 2024, which he won by ninth-round KO to retain his WBA Bantam title.
Naoya also has a cousin brother of the same age who is a professional boxer with 17 wins and two losses. Of his 17 victories, 14 were by knockout (82.35%) and three by decision. Since 2019, Koki has held the WBO Asia Pacific Light-welterweight title, but in February 2024, he lost it to Daishi Nagata for the OPBF Light-welterweight title.
Also Read: Does Naoya Inoue Fight Outside Japan?
FAQs on Naoya Inoue's Parents
A. Naoya Inoue's parents are Shingo and Miho Inoue.
A. Naoya Inoue's father, Shingo, was an amateur boxer and ultramarathon runner.
A. Yes, Naoya has a younger brother named Takuma Inoue and a cousin brother Koki Inoue; both of them are professional boxers.
A. Takuma Inoue is Naoya's younger brother, a professional boxer, and a former WBC Interim Bantamweight titleholder.
A. Naoya Inoue is 31 years old as of May 2024; he was born on April 10, 1993.
