Naoya Inoue elevated to P4P king after dominant win over Donaire

WBC, WBA and IBF world bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue has been elevated to the number one spot on The RING’s prestigious pound-for-pound rankings.

Inoue, who holds a perfect record of 23-0 with 20 knockouts, is coming off a second-round demolition of Nonito Donaire Jr. last Tuesday at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

“By a 5-4 margin in a Ring ratings panel debate, three-weight world champion Naoya Inoue has made history by becoming the first Japanese national to sit atop the mythical rankings,” The RING announced.

“The reigning unified heavyweight titleholder Oleksandr Usyk will drop from No. 1 to No. 2, while Terence Crawford moves down a spot to No. 3.”

According to The Ring, notably touted as the Bible of boxing, the former no.4 P4P ranked Inoue sealed the deal in the top 1 spot for his one-sided win over the ex-four division champion Donaire.

“The rematch victory over Donaire was a massacre. Most of us predicted the win but few foresaw a one-sided blowout,” The RING wrote.

“Yes, Donaire is 39 years old, but that cannot be overplayed. He’d never lost at bantamweight and was on great form, having halted two unbeaten opponents.”

—JMB, GMA News