Boxing
My hero academia: Inoue ready to rest after latest mammoth summit
Wardley vs. Dubois: Only on DAZN PPV - Saturday
On Saturday evening in Tokyo, a Japanese cultural behemoth made its final scheduled bow - for now - just before Naoya Inoue entered the ring across town.
My Hero Academia , the popular shonen anime series based on Kōhei Horikoshi's best-selling manga series, capped off its adaptation with a special episode.
Entitled More , it caught up with its previously teenaged cast the better part of a decade after their graduation from their prestigious superhero academy UA.
In particular, it honed in on two of its central protagonists, Izuku Midoriya and Ochaco Uraraka, and their respective decisions to make more time for themselves.
Intriguing styles make for classic between Benavidez and Zurdo
Watch: Tactical breakdown of both fighters
Benavidez vs. Zurdo watch on DAZN PPV or Ultimate Tier - Buy here
It is a perculiar coincidence that Inoue should scale the biggest peak of an already glittering career just hours later - and that he may now follow their lead too.
For well over a decade, 'The Monster' has gone hell for leather, chewing up multiple divisions on his way to pound-for-pound greatness both at home and abroad.
When MHA first debuted in 2014, in the popular Weekly Shōnen Jump , he was already a world champion, with the WBC light flyweight title in his back pocket.
By the time it reached television screens in 2016, he was a two-weight kingpin, the WBO junior bantamweight strap also added to his fast-growing collection.
Taken with such context, it speaks to both the longevity and dominance that Inoue has enjoyed in a sport that historically does not always reward both at the top.
His reputation as a perfectionist performer has helped deliver a status second only to the legendary Manny Pacquiao among Asian fighters, a phenomenal run.
Saturday's bout with Junto Nakatani a sliding-doors moment in many ways. Like Inoue, 'Big Bang' was an unbeaten multi-division champion with change to spare.
With five less years on the clock, three extra inches in reach and a southpaw stance, some felt as if it could have been a torch-passing night at the Tokyo Dome.
Certainly, for a few rounds near the back end of the fight, Inoue looked to be feeling the extra wear-and-tear, his movements a fraction off, his head dipped a tad.
STEPHANE MOUCHMOUCHE/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
That tenth-round head clash which cut Nakatani across the left eyebrow may or may not have proved the difference. Ultimately, the answer will never be known.
But the way that the champion dug in his heels and swung back momentum in those final few exchanges saw him summon a blockbuster-style second wind.
Inoue isn't quite the showman some of his peers are, more readily the technican. His smarts are one step ahead of his body sometimes, and it often bears fruit.
Yet the tank looked close to empty afterwards, as he smiled and embraced a tearful Nakatani, saw his belts paraded to a monster crowd once more with aplomb.
For several powerbrokers, hopes of a featherweight move are on the table. So too is a potential bout with Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez if a division can be agreed.
Many would be keen to see him run it back with Nakatani after this, with 'Big Bang' given the chance to avenge a first professional loss on the biggest stage again.
Truthfully however, what Inoue needs now is time. Thirty-three years old, he is not getting any younger. Nobody could begrudge him for pausing to take stock.
The star alluded to as much in the ring, when he asked his fans to "please give me a rest", while pledging to return to Tokyo once again when he is eventually ready.
It is the best course for a lower-division titan, one of the best to have ever stepped into the ring. Like the players of MHA , he must be selfish after giving so much.
Then, when he does eventually carve his way back to the canvas again, perhaps his respite will leave him renewed for another challenge - and yet another triumph.
Benavidez vs. Zurdo on DAZN PPV
Watch David Benavidez versus Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on DAZN PPV this Saturday, May 2. Buy as a one-off PPV or get it included with the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which also includes the Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), Usyk vs. Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13) and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs without any extra one-off costs.
For pricing, more information, and to sign up to watch, click here
