WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue is fired up as he begins his campaign to prove he is the world's best boxer in the division.

Two days before his World Boxing Super Series tournament debut, the 25-year-old expressed his excitement at getting into the ring on Sunday at Yokohama Arena, where he will face Juan Carlos Payano in the first round of the bantamweight competition.

"As I'll have my first WBSS fight against Payano, I know he's a tough fighter who has established a long career, but I would like to perform my best and win," Inoue told a news conference on Friday.