At 93 years old, Arum's career in boxing promotion stretches back to the 1960s. He founded Top Rank Boxing in 1973, a promotional powerhouse that's still going strong today. Over the decades, Arum has worked with some of the biggest names in boxing, including Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao, Thomas Hearns, Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Tyson Fury.
In a recent interview with Jai McAllister, Arum didn't hold back in his praise for Inoue. He stated:
"Inoue is not only pound-for-pound the best in the world. Inoue is the best fighter I've ever seen, no matter what weight category or anything. I have never ever in the almost 60-years I've been in boxing seen anything like Inoue."
This statement carries significant weight, considering Arum's extensive experience with some of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up gloves.
Naoya "The Monster" Inoue, a 32-year-old from Kanagawa, Japan, currently holds the undisputed super-bantamweight championship. He previously unified all the belts in the bantamweight division. Inoue's next challenge will likely be a long-awaited battle with Murodjon Akhmadaliev, expected to take place before the end of the year.
Arum's praise for Inoue comes despite his recent success with British heavyweight legend Tyson Fury. The promoter played a crucial role in Fury's comeback, which culminated in a victory over WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in 2020. Fury's return to the top of the sport after overcoming personal issues makes Arum's statement about Inoue even more remarkable.
As the boxing world digests Arum's declaration, fans and pundits alike will surely debate where Inoue ranks among the all-time greats. But there's no denying the impact "The Monster" has made on one of boxing's most experienced figures.