Inoue Thrills Fans With Knockout Win Over Kim

It seemed pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue didn’t expect a full house of 15,000 fans at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo to see him in a delayed fight against a late replacement opponent. But the hometown hero’s fans wouldn’t let him down.

Undisputed, unified super bantamweight champion Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) won his 24th consecutive title fight with a fourth-round knockout win over a brave but outgunned Ye Joon Kim of South Korea (21-3-2, 13 KOs).

Naoya Inoue’s dramatic ringwalk included a laser light show and a platform that rose above the audience. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Inoue made his ringwalk to a spectacular light show while Kim walked in quietly focused with his team. Considering how big a moment it was for Kim, an orphan who pursued boxing to fend off his childhood bullies, he showed impressive calm.

Feel Out Round, Then Fireworks

The first round looked like a freeze frame as both men stood across from each other, sizing each other up and throwing a few testing shots.

Inoue got to work with his right hand in the second round, and as the fight progressed, Inoue began landing body shots. Kim weathered them well. Several times, he motioned Inoue in, flicking his glove.

Naoya Inoue used an effective body attack to set up Ye Joon Kim for the knockout. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

But the offense took its toll, and although Kim landed solid punches of his own, it wasn’t enough to fend off Inoue. Inoue rocked Kim near the end of the third round but didn’t have enough time to make it stick.

After stunning Kim with another vicious left to the liver, Inoue followed with a right over the guard, dropping Kim hard on his knees. The grimace on his face said it all, and although he tried to rise before referee Mark Nelson finished his count, his night was over.

Ye Joon Kim valiantly tried to rise before Mark Nelson finished his count, but he couldn’t. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

“My new opponent (accepted the bout) 10 days before the fight. I feel a lot of love from everyone. I appreciate it,” said Inoue. “Overall, I think it was a good match. I didn’t have enough time to study my opponent, so I just took time to see what was coming from him.”

“Another great performance by our champion here,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum, who joined Inoue in the ring after his victory. Arum then offered a preview of what fans can expect next, and American fans should be clearing their calendars in April.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum joined Naoya Inoue in the ring, promising his next fight would occur in Las Vegas in the spring. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

“I observed that the great country of Japan has given Ohtani to Los Angeles. And at least for one fight, the great country of Japan will give the great Inoue to the city of Las Vegas this spring.” Arum later specified it would be April.

Sasaki Bangs Out Decision Over Sakai

Jin Sasaki is a fan favorite for his showmanship and swag – and yes, his punching power. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

In the co-main event, world-ranked welterweight contender Jin Sasaki of Tokyo (19-1-1, 17 KOs) defended his WBO Asia Pacific and OPBF belts with a 12-round unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai of Yokohama (29-15-3, 15 KOs), extending his unbeaten streak to nine. The scorecards were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

The fight was all action. Sasaki focused on a relentless body assault, but Sakai was as tough as they came and took everything Sasaki threw at him, returning and keeping him honest with several effective uppercuts of his own. But it wasn’t enough to throw the ambitious Sasaki off his game plan to score a title fight.

Sasaki called out all the champions, reading from his phone in English. All four sanctioning organizations rank him in the top five in the welterweight division. But he will have to wait before he gets a chance to fight Barrios, Ennis, Norman Jr., or Stanionis.

Jaron Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis are scheduled for a unification fight in April. Brian Norman Jr. has a stay-busy title defense against Derrick Cuevas on March 29 on the Meyer vs. Ryan undercard, and Mario Barrios is coming off a draw in November against Abel Ramos Jr.