There was a time when Bob Arum championed the idea of Naoya Inoue fighting Robeisy Ramirez in the Japanese superstar's featherweight debut.

Inoue's 93-year-old co-promoter isn't nearly as open to the thought of Inoue facing the opponent that has since beaten Ramirez twice. "The Monster" still has business within the 122-pound division, including his rescheduled IBF-mandated defense of its junior featherweight title against Australia's Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on January 24 at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.

Whichever way 2025 unfolds for Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs), The Ring's junior featherweight champion, Arum wouldn't recommend Rafael Espinoza as an opponent if he eventually advances to the 126-pound limit.

"Eventually, Inoue is gonna move up to featherweight," Arum told The Ring. "I don’t think Inoue's handlers are gonna wanna put him in with a featherweight that's just so big. You know? He's 6-foot-1, enormous."

The long, strong Espinoza scored a sixth-round stoppage of Ramirez in their rematch for the WBO featherweight title at Phoenix's Footprint Center on December 7.

The Cuban-born Ramirez, who lost a 12-round majority decision to Espinoza last December 9, suffered a fractured right orbital bone in their second encounter.

Ramirez (14-3, 9 KOs) led on two scorecards when he turned away from Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) and declined to continue due to the damage done around his right eye. Referee Chris Flores stopped the action only 12 seconds into the sixth round.

Ramirez led by the same score, 48-47, through five rounds on the cards of judges Tim Cheatham and Dennis O'Connell. Judge Zachary Young had Ramirez ahead 49-46 entering the sixth round.

Espinoza's performance mesmerized Arum, who watched from his customary front row seat as The Ring’s second-ranked featherweight made the second defence of his WBO belt.

"I don't remember ever seeing a featherweight as big as Espinoza," Arum said. "I mean, he towers above the normal featherweight and is a really good fighter. You know, he's very aggressive but a skilled boxer and an impressive kid when you talk to him. He's very down to Earth. I talked to him with a translator and he seems like a very, very smart kid."