For Inoue, this fight confirmed that he is still one of the world's best pound-for-pound fighters, albeit against a last minute replacement opponent.
After recently signing an agreement with Riyadh Season, this year could finally be Inoue's chance to announce himself to the wider sporting world and the casual boxing fan.
When it comes to the 'Monster's' next fight, the location has already been confirmed in Las Vegas, but who will Inoue face in the fight capital of the world?
DAZN News takes a look at three possible candidates.
Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs)
Jaime Lopez/Jam Media/Getty Images
For Inoue's return to the States, it looks like Mexico's Alan Picasso is nailed on to face the 'Monster'.
Picasso is undefeated in his 32 fights as a professional and is the mandatory challenger for Inoue's WBC belt.
If it is indeed Picasso who will be in the opposite corner for Inoue's next outing, expect an electric atmosphere from the Mexican fight fans who always make a Las Vegas fight week a memorable occasion.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs)
(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Murodjon Akhmadaliev is another mandatory challenger, this time for Inoue's WBA super bantamweight title.
After beating Ricardo Espinoza Franco in November, Akhmadaliev's promoter Eddie Hearn reiterated his desire to see his fighter face Inoue, and even claimed that the undisputed champion was 'ducking'.
In this case, it's a classic 'be careful what you wish for' scenario, and even if Akhmadaliev does not face Inoue next, then Hearn has already laid out a plan for the Uzbek fighter to face the 'Monster' before the end of 2025.
Junto Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs)
Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
The fight everyone wants to see is the all-Japanese showdown between Inoue and the current WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani.
With Nakatani quickly becoming a huge star in Japan after winning his last three contests by way of knockout, an Inoue-Nakatani showdown would be one for the ages.
However, Inoue has frequently dismissed any chances of facing Nakatani at some point this year with the latter still not making the move to super bantamweight.
Therefore, time will be needed for an Inoue-Nakatani super fight to materialise, and realistically, this could happen towards the end of 2025 at the earliest meaning 2026 could be the year fight fans will finally see this eagerly awaited showdown.
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