Naoya Inoue (17-0, 15 KOs), the Japanese pound-for-pound star, has landed in Glasgow, Scotland ahead of his World Boxing Super Series bantamweight semi-final against IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs). “I am happy to be in Scotland,” said Inoue, who holds the WBA regular championship (Nonito Donaire, another WBSS entrant, is the WBA super champion). “I’m excited to be fighting in front of the Scottish fans and I am looking forward to putting on a great performance.” Inoue entered the WBSS with an impressive showing. Two hits were all he needed in the opening round in October-- Inoue threw a frightening two-punch combination that decimated former titleholder Juan Carlos Payano and sent shockwaves through the crowd and the world of boxing. 16.000 fans inside the Yokohama Arena could hardly believe their eyes. The fight was over in seventy seconds. 

 

“I felt pretty good about my combination,” Inoue said of the winning two-punch. “And looking at the way he fell onto the mat, I thought it really damaged him.”

 

It was his second consecutive first-round knockout, the other coming against Jamie McDonnell, and neither of the opponents had ever been stopped before.

 

In the semi-final on May 18th at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, IBF titleholder Emmanuel Rodriguez pf Puerto Rico faces the Japanese superstar nicknamed "The Monster". And he is aiming for a KO, like always. “My aim is a KO in any fight,” said Inoue. “In my last two fights last year, that moment just happened to come in the 1st round. My goal is not to finish the fight in the 1st round, but will go for the KO when I see the chance.”

 

Many experts have tipped Inoue to lift the Ali Trophy, but he has a tough opponent in the form of unbeaten Rodriguez (26). Inoue witnessed ‘El Sensacional' close-up from ringside in Orlando on October 20 when the Puerto Rican came out on top after an epic back-and-forth battle with Australia’s Jason Moloney. “Rodriguez is a good boxer. His counter punching techniques impressed me the most watching from ringside in Orlando,” said the 26-year-old.

 

In just a little over a week from now, the pair will share the ring. “I can’t wait. I came to Scotland to win and to move on to the final and prove I am the best bantamweight in the world!”

 

Tickets for the Monster WBSS Semi-Finals night, Ivan Baranchyk vs Josh Taylor and Naoya Inoue vs Emmanuel Rodriguez on 18 May at The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland are on sale now from TheSSEHydro.com

 

All the action will be live on DAZN in the U.S. and Sky Sports in the U.K.