Naoya Inoue just finished his bout against the South Korea’s Ye Joon Kim at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The event promised drama and high-stakes competition, delivering on all fronts with thrilling performances across the main bout and undercard.
All in all, Naoya Inoue lived up to his “Monster” moniker yet again. From the opening bell, Inoue showcased his trademark power and precision, dismantling Kim with blistering jabs and punishing body shots. By the third round, Kim was pinned to the ropes and showing signs that he couldn’t endure Inoue’s onslaught much longer.
True to form, Inoue ramped up the pressure in the fourth, methodically cutting off the ring and landing sharp, clean punches. Kim, already swollen around the right eye, had no answers for Inoue’s masterful combination of accuracy and aggression. A final barrage from the Japanese sensation forced the referee’s intervention, sealing yet another statement knockout for the reigning undisputed junior featherweight champion.
On the undercard, Jin Sasaki scored a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai in a welterweight scrap, while Yuni Takada and Kai Watanabe each picked up narrow split decisions over Goki Kobayashi and Tsubasa Narai, respectively. Meanwhile, Toshiki Shimomachi bested Misaki Hirano via majority decision in a super bantamweight tilt. All four undercard bouts showcased competitive action but couldn’t match the anticipation surrounding Inoue’s return.
Image Credit: Naoki Fukuda