EDWARD “GENERAL” HENO shows no fear of unified champion Naoya Inoue of Japan.
Heno holds the less illustrious Boxing Worldwide Organization (BWO) bantamweight belt and aims to go rungs higher on the global stage if he gets to fight Inoue, a tormentor of several Filipino boxers and owner of the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation bantamweight belts.
“He’s also a human being. I am very much willing to fight him if opportunity comes,” the 29-year-old Parañaque City boxer told BusinessMirror on Tuesday. “I’m not afraid of him, nobody’s afraid of him. It’s going to be a good fight at 118 [lbs] if it happens.”
A former world title challenger, Heno said he could give Inoue (23-0 win-loss with 20 knockouts) a tough fight “the Japanese never experienced before.”
“I will engage with him if he wants,” Heno said. “The ‘General’ doesn’t surrender in any battle.”
But Heno should be careful of what he wishes for when it comes to Inoue, who’s called the “Monster.”
Inoue beat erstwhile WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. a second round technical knockout loss last July 7 in Saitama, Japan, in a rematch to unify three of the four belts around the Japanese’s waist.
Britain’s Paul Butler holds the World Boxing Organization belt which he will put on the line against Inoue on December 13 in Japan.
Heno is coming off a unanimous decision win over fellow Filipino Reneol Pael last August 4 to win the BWO crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City. He is also planning to fight big names in the super flyweight or 115-lb category, his promoter Aljoe Jaro said.
“Bring it on…all the best at 118 or 115, Heno will accept the challenge anytime, anywhere,” Jaro said.