A deal is being finalized for undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue to face Murodjon Akhmadaliev, according to Eddie Hearn.

Hearn, who represents Akhmadaliev, recently accused Inoue of “ducking” his fighter and taking easy fights. Akhmadaliev is the mandatory challenger for Inoue’s WBA title, but Inoue has instead taken fights against TJ Doheny and Ye Joon Kim rather than a bout with Uzbekistan's Akhmadaliev.

Inoue is due to face ProBox TV fighter Raymond Cardenas this Cinco de Mayo weekend (May 4) in Las Vegas, but he risks losing his WBA title. The governing body has ordered Inoue to face Akhmadaliev, its No. 1-ranked contender, and now both parties are in discussions to make an undisputed fight between Inoue and Akhmadaliev this September.

“We are finalizing terms for Akhmadaliev to fight Inoue in September,” Hearn told BoxingScene. “The upcoming fight with Cardenas can only be for undisputed if we allow it. Because he's been ordered to fight Akhmadaliev for the title and he'll be stripped if he doesn't.

“So we are working on a deal with Mr. Honda [Inoue’s management], whereby we will agree to wait again. But we will fight Akhmadaliev in Japan in September. We've agreed terms. We now wait to sign a contract, which we haven't done yet.”