Naoya Inoue wants to end Jamie McDonnell's world title reign with one punch

Vicious, uncompromising, explosive – Naoya Inoue has smashed his way to ‘real deal’ status, bowling over the competition.

Fifteen fights, 15 wins, 13 stoppages. Two world titles at two different weights. Number seven on the pound for pound ratings.

Fighting on home soil, Inoue is the hot favourite to end Jamie McDonnell’s four-year reign as WBA bantamweight champion.

Unsurprisingly, his plan to do just that is relatively simple and brutal.

“McDonnell is a tough fighter but I want to knock him down with one punch,” Inoue told Boxing Mobile Japan.

“McDonnell is a good opponent to have for my first bantamweight fight.”

Inoue has sparred with Birmingham’s Raza Hamza to prepare himself for the physicality of his clash with McDonnell.

The Hatfield fighter will hold a five inch height advantage over Inoue as well as a considerable reach asset.

“European fighters have long legs and arms, and it means that their body positioning is different from Asian fighters,” Inoue said.

“It isn’t easy to find those kind of fighters in Asia. I didn’t have any difficulty fighting them, but it was a new experience.

“It’s the first time that I’m going to face a fighter that tall.

“But it’s the same when meeting any fighter for the first time, there’s always something new to contend with.”

Inoue is a former WBC light flyweight and WBO super flyweight champion. He is on a run of five consecutive stoppages.