Whenever Naoya Inoue is brought up, Tim Bradley pauses before showing all 32 of his teeth. That broad smile is an indication of how good he thinks the undisputed super bantamweight is. And, most recently, Inoue got a chance to prove why he’s viewed as one of the best fighters in the world. One day after watching Terence Crawford upset Canelo Alvarez, Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) made it look easy against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, beating him by wide unanimous decision in Japan.

Although Inoue still plans on defending his throne a bit longer, including against David Picasso on December 27, he’s likely to move up soon to the featherweight limit (126). At 122 pounds, Inoue has been unbeatable and Bradley doesn’t see that changing. Nevertheless, the higher he goes in weight, the more likely that likelihood changes. “As Inoue travels up divisions, he’s gonna meet that athlete that’s just as athletic as him,” Bradley said on a self-recorded video that was posted on his YouTube channel. “That's when the size is gonna become a factor.”

Akhmadaliev (14-2, 11 KOs) lacked size and power when they squared off. A former unified champ, he tried everything but had no answers Sept. 14. Bradley is a harsh critic. The 2023 Hall of Famer easily spots flaws and highlights them. With Inoue, he won’t go as far as to say he’s a perfect fighter, but he’s incredibly close to it. “Inoue is a brilliant fighter,” Bradley said. “He continues to get better and better. He’s always adjusting his game.”