Bob Arum: Murodjon Akhmadaliev would cost himself by forcing Naoya Inoue to vacate

Naoya Inoue’s co-promoter says that Murodjon Akhmadaliev would be cutting off his nose to spite his face if he forces his mandatory shot at the undisputed junior featherweight champion now instead of waiting a little longer.

Akhmadaliev, a former unified titleholder at 122lbs, is the WBA’s mandatory challenger. But Inoue has been ordered by the IBF to face its mandatory challenger, Sam Goodman, who is also the No. 1 contender in the WBO’s ratings. Inoue-Goodman, set for Christmas Eve – December 24 – was just made official.

In recent weeks, Akhmadaliev has called for Inoue to either fight him or vacate the belt. And his attorney says the WBA title shot is “next in line” in the sequential order when titleholders have unified belts and competing obligations.

“Inoue either gives up that [WBA] title or there’s going to be litigation” against the sanctioning body, Pat English told BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire.

Bob Arum of Top Rank believes Akhmadaliev’s team should follow a different strategy.

“If I were Vadim [Kornilov], who is the manager of Akhmadaliev, I would not pursue that course, but I would be looking to start negotiations for an April fight within a week and without litigation, without any nonsense,” Arum told boxing reporter Dan Rafael on his Fight Freaks Unite podcast. “But again, boxing being boxing, and the testosterone level goes really high, you can’t count on everybody to make the right decision.

“So if they examine what they’re talking about, and let’s say the WBA is made to strip Inoue of his WBA title, there’s only two losers,” Arum said. “One is the WBA, and the other is the kid who’s trying to strip Inoue.”

Arum believes Akhmadaliev would earn 10 per cent of what he would otherwise get to fight Inoue.

Top Rank is looking to bring Inoue to the United States for an April fight in Las Vegas. And then, if Inoue is successful, he would return to headlining in Japan, where he’s a huge attraction, potentially for a blockbuster fight against the top bantamweight, Junto Nakatani.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod. He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.