Tale of the tape
Here’s a look at how Inoue and Kim measure up ahead of tonight’s main event. Both comfortably made the super bantamweight divisional limit of 122lbs at Thursday’s official weigh-in in Yokohama. The champion will bring in advantages of one inch in height and an estimated three and a half inches in reach.
Key events
Round 2
Inoue lands a crisp right hand. He’s found a nice rhythm and is starting to let his hands go, throwing with power and accuracy. Kim showing a lot of respect as Inoue has picked up his work rate, stepping into the pocket and throwing punches. Kim is timing the champion, waiting for an opening for that left hand. And he’s able to land it with about to minute to go. Inoue felt that, but he takes it well. Inoue then catches the challenger with a compact right hand near the end of the round.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Inoue 10-9 Kim (Inoue 20-18 Kim)
Round 1
There’s the bell. Kim comes out in an orthodox stance. Both men trade feints in a tense feeling-out period. Kim does switch to southpaw, which has troubled Inoue somewhat in the past (to the extent Inoue has been troubled). Not much action in the opening three minutes as the fighters give respect to one another while collating data.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Inoue 10-9 Kim (Inoue 10-9 Kim)
The fighters have been announced. Interestingly, Kim is named second, traditionally the honor of the champion. The final instructions have been given by the referee, the seconds are out and we’ll pick it up with round-by-round coverage from here!
It’s time for the fighter entrances at the Ariake Arena. First out of the tunnel is the challenger, Ye Joon Kim, making the long walk to the ring wearing plain black robe with black trunks as Akon’s Beautiful Day blasts from the arena soundsystem. The 15-1 underdog looks incredibly relaxed in the moments before the fight of his life.
And now here comes the Monster! He’s raised toward the rafters by a hydraulic lift as a laser show lights the arena. Finally he’s lowered and makes his way to the ring in a white robe with red trim. After a pause he climbs the stairs and through the ropes and raises a single glove to the crowd.
Ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr begins the proceedings by calling for the national anthems of South Korea then Japan.
Top Rank’s Carl Moretti says that Kim has rehydrated 25lbs since yesterday’s weigh-in. That means he will enter the ring at 147lbs: a full-blown welterweight. Inoue has reportedly rehydrated to 135lbs.
Jin Sasaki has win a 12-round unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai in the co-feature bout. He then proceeds to call out all of the current welterweight champions in English reading from a cell phone.
“I’m Jin Sasaki, I will become the first Japanese welterweight world champion!” Sasaki says. “I’m absolutely confident that I’ll win, so all you welterweight world champions, let’s have the fight! Boots Ennis, Eimantas Stanionis, Brian Norman and Mario Barrios, I`m not going to ran away or hide, I`m looking forward to the World title match this year! Thank you!”
Tale of the tape
Here’s a look at how Inoue and Kim measure up ahead of tonight’s main event. Both comfortably made the super bantamweight divisional limit of 122lbs at Thursday’s official weigh-in in Yokohama. The champion will bring in advantages of one inch in height and an estimated three and a half inches in reach.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the undisputed junior featherweight championship fight between Naoya Inoue and Ye Joon Kim. The unbeaten four-weight Japanese champion known as the Monster is back in action today at the waterfront Ariake Arena today in the Tokyo suburbs in defense of his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO title belts at 122lbs, the division where he’s managed to unify all four major belts after doing the same at 118lbs. That’s been enough in the assessment of many to make Inoue the world’s No 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
Inoue’s original opponent, the Australian contender Sam Goodman, was forced to withdraw after suffering a cut during training, leaving Kim to step in on less than two weeks’ notice. While the abrupt change disrupted Inoue’s training schedule, the 31-year-old views it as an opportunity rather than a setback. “Adjusting my preparation has been a plus,” he said this week. “I think this will help me in future big fights.”
And big fights are what Inoue specializes in. While he’s yet to bring the Monster Show stateside in his imperial era, he’s making eight figures every time he steps in the ring in Japan and has headlined a boxing card at the Tokyo Dome for the first time since Mike Tyson. His run of four-belt dominance began in December 2022 when he unified the bantamweight titles with a clinical stoppage of Paul Butler. Since then, he’s ascended to the super bantamweight division, claiming undisputed status with knockout wins over Stephen Fulton, Marlon Tapales, Luis Nery and most recently TJ Donehy. Now Inoue seeks his 10th consecutive KO victory – and a chance to add yet another highlight to his Hall of Fame resume.
Every fight comes with risks, especially against a hungry underdog like Kim, who has been gifted the chance of a lifetime and vowed to bring the fight to Inoue from the opening bell. (“I’m different from anyone he’s faced before,” Kim declared. “It’s my time. I’ll crush him.”) Still, Kim faces an uphill battle against a generational talent like Inoue and will go off as an overwhelming underdog. Bob Arum, the 93-year-old promoter who co-promotes Inoue with Ohashi Promotions, has spent the week heaping effusive praise on the Japanese star. “Inoue is more disciplined and technically sound than Manny Pacquiao,” Arum said. “He doesn’t take foolish chances. He’s a complete fighter.”
The final preliminary bout, a scheduled 12-round fight between Jin Sasaki and Shoki Sakai, is just finishing up. Then Inoue and Kim will make their ringwalks.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at Thursday’s official weigh-in.
