Naoya Inoue doesn’t have to be requested twice.
Together with his opponent beckoning him in, Inoue stepped ahead with a devastating proper cross to blast Ye Joon Kim all the way down to the canvas to defend his undisputed world championship in 4 rounds.
Kim had been hoping to understand an unlikely dream. The Korean had taken the chance in opposition to Inoue – certainly one of, if not the most effective within the sport – when he stepped in to switch Sam Goodman.
Goodman had two possibilities at this battle himself, however a minimize in sparring that reopened forward of this rescheduled date lastly dominated him out altogether.
Kim had been on stand-by and so somewhat than an undercard bout he grew to become a part of the principle occasion. However he nonetheless was going through arguably the toughest project in world boxing, making an attempt to beat Naoya Inoue, and doing it at simply two weeks’ discover.
Inoue is a two-weight undisputed world champion, now holding all 4 of the most important titles at super-bantamweight.
He got here as much as 122lbs in 2023 and has gained each bout he is had at that weight inside the gap. The Japanese star blazed by Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales to unify the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF world titles.
Most lately he compelled TJ Doheny to retire from their bout and he additionally accomplished an thrilling championship defence in opposition to Luis Nery final yr.
Nery scored a surprising knockdown in opposition to Inoue of their first spherical. However Inoue rose from that to blow Nery away with one other large end.
This newest defence was one other showcase of his devastating capabilities.
Story of the battle
Kim got here out southpaw, shifting to the centre of the ring on the opening bell. Inoue waited for him, his lead left held excessive to impede his challenger’s proper jab, and stayed affected person, earlier than smashing his straight proper into Kim’s trunk.
Kim needed to again off, to maintain out of vary of these straight photographs.
Within the second spherical Inoue moved Kim again with a heavy proper. He was beginning to tag Kim. Inoue cracked Kim with a left-right mixture. Kim tried to curve over his left, however it was too sluggish and Inoue weaved away from it.
Naoya Inoue can have fun one other victory
Whereas a cross did attain Inoue, the champion timed his proper to catch Kim cleanly.
Kim tapped his cross into Inoue’s physique and he popped in a mixture, keen himself to up his punch output.
However Inoue’s energy had quickly introduced up a swelling underneath Kim’s eye and the champion punished him with agency jabs.
He lanced a cracking cross by too. A left hook then a proper struck Kim’s physique, hits that will need to have knocked the wind out of him. Kim needed to pedal again.
Inoue’s proper remained sharp within the fourth spherical. He directed Kim right into a nook and the challenger was hard-pushed to flee.
Counters slammed into Kim and a left hook into Kim’s physique landed with audible energy.
Kim was lowered to displaying his toughness, beckoning Inoue in – however that solely invited hassle. A left scraped throughout had Kim damage however the large straight proper that landed flush was the ending blow.
