Naoya Inoue shot for ‘undisputed’; Michel Rivera, Frank Martin put the number ‘0’ on the line

FIGHT WEEK

Japanese star Naoya Inoue will face Paul Butler for the bantamweight title on Tuesday in Tokyo. Additionally, lightweight contenders Michel Rivera and Frank Martin will fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

NAOYA INOUE (23-0, 20 KOs) vs PAUL BUTLER (34-2, 15 KOs)

• When: Tuesday, December 13
• Time: 2 a.m. ET (main event later on in the show)
• Where: Ariake Arena, Tokyo
• television/stream: GAME+
• Assignment: Chicken class (118 pounds)
• threatened: Inoue’s undisputed championship
• Pound-for-pound ratings: Inoue No. 2
• the odds: Inoue 70-1 favorite (multi-store average)
• Also on the card: Yoshiki Takei vs. Bruno Tarimo, baby featherweight; Andy Hiraoka vs Min Ho Jung, junior weight class; Takuma Inoue vs. Jade Bornea, featherweight; Satoshi Shimizu vs. Landy Cris Leon, feather class
• Guess: Inoue KO 6
• Story: The only thing Inoue hasn’t finished yet? An undisputed champion. The knockout artist from Japan will have his chance to be one of the early hours of Tuesday morning (in the US), when he takes on title holder Paul Butler in Tokyo. Inoue has dominated like any active fighter, beating elite opponents to titles in three divisions and recognition every pound. He wins 18-0 (16 KOs) in world titles and 9-0 (7 KOs) against current or former world champions. He’s 8-0 (7 KOs) as a 118-pounder. The only bantamweight to get him the distance in that amount of time is Nonito Sponsor in 2019, when Inoue fights with a crack in his face. He Donaire stop in two halves of the rematch last June. Butler is a two-time 118-pound belt holder. He won the IBF version overtaking Stuart Hall in 2014 but gave it up and moved down to 115th later that year. He regained the same title when he beat Jonas Sultan by unanimous decision to take the sanctioning body’s “interim” title this past April and was quickly elevated to full-time champion. . The 34-year-old has won eight matches in a row since he fell to defending champion Emanuel Rodriguez and then lost a decisive game in 2018.

MICHEL RIVERA (24-0, 14 KOs) vs FRANK MARTIN (16-0, 12 KOs)

• When: Saturday, December 17
• Time: 10pm ET / 7pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
• Where: International of Las Vegas
• television/stream: Showtime
• Assignment: Light weight (135 pounds)
• threatened: No main title
• Pound-for-pound ratings: Not available
• the odds: Even (average of multiple stores)
• Also on the card: Jose Uzcategui vs Vladimir Shishkin, super middleweight; Nikolai Potapov vs Vincent Astrolabio, bantamweight; Omar Jaurez vs Austin Dulay, junior weight class
• Guess: Rivera SD
• Story: This was an unusual match between two talented, undefeated young contenders. Rivera, 24, is untouchable in his young professional career, which began in 2016. The Miami-based Dominican has proven he can outdo you with his skills or knocks you down with his power even as the opponent has improved, even though his last three games his opponent put him in the distance. Rivera will make an eight-round one-way decision against Jerry Perez in October. Martin is surrounded by good role models: He trains with Errol Spence Jr. and Jermell Charlo under the direction of Derrick James. He, too, seems to be a complete fighter. He is agile, skillful and strong. The 27-year-old Indianapolis resident hasn’t been seriously motivated either since turning pro in 2017. He’s about to make his debut. knockout final round of Jackson Marinez became available this past July. Saturday’s match is considered a WBA title knockout. Rivera was ranked 2nd by the sanctioning agency, Martin 10th. Rivera has expressed a desire to fight sub-belt Gervonta Davis. Devin Haney is the undisputed 135-pound champion.

FIGHT THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

• Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Michael Wallisch, heavyweight, Shawinigan, Quebec (ESPN+)

SATURDAY

• Christian Mbili vs. Vaughn Alexander, super middleweight, Nantes, France (ESPN+)
• Quilisto Madera vs. Hector Zepeda, middleweight, Stockton, California (FightHype)
• Raul Curiel vs Brad Solomon, Welding Weight Class, Commercial, California (DAZN)