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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Justin McCurry in Tokyo

Naoya Inoue wants Paul Butler fight in bid to unify world bantamweight titles

Naoya Inoue beat Nonito Donaire this month to became the first Japanese boxer to hold three world title belts in a single weight division.
Naoya Inoue, nicknamed the Monster, beats Nonito Donaire to became the first Japanese boxer to hold three world title belts in a single weight division. Photograph: Jiji Press/EPA

Naoya Inoue has said he is ready to fight the British boxer Paul Butler “any time and anywhere” in his quest to claim a fourth bantamweight title and become the undisputed world champion.

Inoue made history this month when he beat the Philippines’ Nonito Donaire in a second-round technical knockout to became the first Japanese boxer to hold a world title from three different sanctioning bodies in a single weight division. The unbeaten Japanese fighter said his sights were now on winning 33-year-old Butler’s WBO belt to complete the collection.

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