ahhm... that would actually be quite awful.
it's barely been two months since Ikkaku got his ass handed to him, and in story progression, it's been zit.
it's been a few good months since somebody important fought someone (remember that guy? he used to be huge when the series began, then he kinda faded away? what was his name? Ichigo or something?). it seems that the anime has actually caught up to that fight..
so anymore of this no-name fights is dragging around a dead corpse. which is exactly what Kubo likes doing.
you're right, ikkaku will redeem himself before we get to see Inoue winning a battle.