Japan's Naoya Inoue (R) fights against South Korea's Kim Ye-joon during their world super-bantamweight title boxing bout in Tokyo on January 24, 2025.
Naoya Inoue made easy work of Ye Joon Kim on Friday morning.
Inoue knocked out Kim in the fourth round to defend his undisputed super bantamweight titles at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Kim was a late replacement after Sam Goodman withdrew from the event due to injury for a second time, just a couple of weeks prior to fight night.
Inoue started the fight on the back foot but quickly realized that Kim posed no real threat to him. The Japanese star focused his efforts on the midsection and seemed to find particular success with the straight right hand against the South Korean southpaw.
At the end of Round 3, Inoue launched a sustained attack on the body, clearly troubling Kim. That was the beginning of the end, as when Inoue came out for Round 4, there was a different demeanor to him.
Inoue caught Kim with a powerful left hook counter, which prompted Kim to call him on to continue punching, perhaps as a sign that Kim wasn't troubled by the shot. Inoue obliged, starting to unload on Kim as Kim was backed up on the ropes. Another left hook got through, followed by a hard right hand that sent Kim crushing to the canvas. Kim did not beat the 10 count, awarding Inoue another win in devastating fashion.
In the post-fight interview, Inoue and his promoter Bob Arum confirmed that his return will be in the spring in the U.S. Inoue also said that he will fight in Saudi Arabia in 2025. He is expected to battle Alan Picasso and Murodjon Akhmadaliev this year — the No. 1 contenders with the WBC and WBA, respectively.
Catch complete Inoue vs. Kim results, highlights and live blog below.
Main Card
Undisputed super bantamweight title: Naoya Inoue def. Ye Joon Kim via fourth-round KO | Watch video
Welterweight: Jin Sasaki def. Shoki Sakai via unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 118-110)
Lightweight: Tsubasa Narai def. Kai Watanabe via split decision (96-94, 94-96, 96-94)
Super bantamweight: Toshiki Shimomachi def. Misaki Hirano via majority decision (95-93, 94-94, 95-93)
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER34 updates
Darshan Desai
That's all for tonight folks!
Uncrowned will bring you live coverage of Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson tomorrow night, so stay tuned for that!
Darshan Desai
Inoue likely to face Picasso, but must fight Akhmadaliev to keep title
Naoya Inoue is likely to face Alan Picasso next in May in the US.
The WBA have ordered him to square off with Murodjon Akhmadaliev and failure to comply with that ruling (again) will likely lead to Inoue being stripped off his belt.
Darshan Desai
Inoue will fight in the US next!
Naoya Inoue has confirmed in his post-fight interview that his next fight will take place in the U.S.
It will be Inoue's first fight on US soil in almost 4 years and his first appearance there as a recognized global boxing star with crowds allowed.
Darshan Desai
Video: Naoya Inoue knocks out Ye Joon Kim in round 4
💣 Naoya Inoue knocks out Ye Joon Kim in round 4 to retain his undisputed super bantamweight titlepic.twitter.com/TwQZn3vdFg
Right hands from Inoue find a home on Kim's chin early in round 4.
Big right hand counter from Inoue shook Kim up. Kim responds with a good overhand left. Inoue immediately gets his own back with a left hook counter. Kim calls him on, but is that a wise move?
Inoue starts to unload as Kim is backed up on the ropes. Another left hook gets through, followed by a HARD right hand and DOWN GOES KIM! And he will not be getting up. This one is OVER!
KO-4 Naoya Inoue
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Inoue vs. Kim - Round 3
A pair of right hands from Inoue connect in the opening minute of the third.
Kim responds with a southpaw left hand, his best work of the fight so far.
Inoue starts to bully Kim around the ring and starts hammering the body in the final few seconds with the straight right hand and left hook. Kim certainly felt those shots.
10-9 Inoue, 30-27 Inoue
Darshan Desai
Inoue vs. Kim - Round 2
Inoue lands a trio of right hands in the first minute, two to the body and one upstairs.
As we come to the second minute, Inoue flicks out four jabs — more as a range finder rather than a damaging blow.
A right hand connects at the halfway point. Clean, powerful 1-2 from Inoue gets through. Back to the body goes Inoue with the backhand.
This is just far too easy for Inoue. He has landed a dozen clean right hands on Kim in round two, and Kim is yet to really land a punch of note.
10-9 Inoue, 20-18 Inoue
Darshan Desai
Inoue vs. Kim - Round 1
Inoue on the backfoot early, but Kim is hesitant to let his hands go.
As we begin the second minute, Inoue turns the tables and starts to push Kim back.
Inoue connects with a sharp jab upstairs. He's looking for the straight right hand to the body, which he lands several times in the second half of the opening round.
Japan's Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) defends his undisputed super bantamweight crown against the late-replacement opponent, South Korea's Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs)
Sasaki has called for fights with Jaron Ennis, Eimantas Stanionis, Mario Barrios, and Brian Norman Jr. in broken English.
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Sasaki beats Sakai via UD
Jin Sasaki takes a competitive unanimous decision win (116-112, 117-111, 118-110) over Shoki Sakai in the co-feature in Tokyo.
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 12
Sakai is forced to retreat as Sasaki connects with a heavy left hook around Sakai's guard. Another left hand from Sasaki, this time to the body. Sasaki has Sakai on the ropes and begins to unleash, but Sakai fires back as good as he's getting. Great action in the twelfth.
10-9 Sasaki, 116-112 Sasaki
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 11
Best round of the fight for Sasaki!
A pair of hard left hooks connect early in the round. However, the real breakthrough came in the final minute with an overhand right that shook Sakai to his boots.
Sasaki followed it up heavily, looking for the kill. Huge power shots went in, including a 4-punch combination, but Sakai took them well and even finished the round with a nice right uppercut.
10-9 Sasaki, 106-103 Sasaki
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 10
More of the same in the tenth. Sakai off balance due to some moisture on the canvas, Sasaki attempts to take advantage of it, but Sakai covers up well.
Sakai throwing just as hard to the body in round 10 as he was in the first. Less movement from Sakai who is forced to stay on the inside for longer, where it obviously benefits Sasaki.
10-9 Sasaki, 96-94 Sasaki
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 9
Sakai's best work in this fight has come through his counter uppercut as Sasaki ventures forward with his head low. Sasaki's left hooks, both to the head and the body, have proved effective.
Well, round 9 was no different. A trio of uppercuts connected for Sakai while Sasaki skimmed with double left hooks upstairs and downstairs.
10-9 Sakai, 86-85 Sasaki
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 8
Sasaki is still pouring on the pressure on Sakai and throwing a significant amount of power shots.
Sakai starts to take over a little at the end of the second minute, having a good spot with long, consistent punching.
Sasaki lands a nice body shot towards the end of the round, though.
10-9 Sasaki, 77-75 Sasaki
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 6
Sasaki lands four consecutive left hooks switching between the face and the midsection.
Sakai's resistance has started to fade a little bit in this round with Sasaki able to have more dominant spells without being countered. Sasaki is starting to put a dent in Sakai now.
10-9 Sasaki, 57-57
Darshan Desai
Video: Sasaki and Sakai letting the punches rip in Tokyo!
Sasaki turns up the heat in round five as he digs in left hooks to the head and body. Sakai has no problem staying up close and taking these on the guard though. Sasaki is clearly a big puncher, but nothing Sakai is overly worried about.
10-9 Sasaki, 48-47 Sakai
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 4
A right hand from Sakai lands flush on Sasaki in the second minute of the forth.
More pressure from Sasaki who lands with a left hook but takes a right uppercut, right hand two-piece for his troubles.
Sakai hasn't wilted from the pressure yet and is more than keeping his own in there.
10-9 Sakai, 39-37 Sakai
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 3
Sakai continues to have success with the uppercut as Sasaki dips his head on the inside and holds his feet. Sasaki is happy to stay in range and take punches as he looks to land the left hook.
Back and forth action from both men; this one is really heating up.
A right uppercut in the final minute from Sakai was the best connect of round 3 but Sasaki ends the round with a good left hook to the body.
10-9 Sakai, 29-28 Sakai
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Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 2
Sasaki starts round two looking to land his signature left hook. He is loading up too much on these punches, swinging and missing, as a result.
A right uppercut counter lands twice for Sakai as the pair exchange on the inside. Sasaki gets through with a nice left hook to the body.
Lots of aggression and pressure from Sasaki, but he needs to relax and throw his punches loosely or Sakai will see them coming.
10-9 Sasaki, 19-19
Darshan Desai
Sasaki vs. Sakai - Round 1
Sakai is controlling the action early with his long left hand. He is firing jabs to the head and body, particularly stabbing the body anytime Sasaki gets in range, so he can stop his movement.
A left hook from Sasaki broke the guard in the second minute. The action starts to heat up as Sakai hits back with a skimming right hand.
10-9 Sakai
Darshan Desai
We are now ready for some live action
Jin Sasaki and Shoki Sakai are just about to ring walk for this morning's co-feature bout.
Darshan Desai
A win for Inoue will set up U.S. return!
Should Naoya Inoue beat Ye Joon Kim today, he is expected to return to U.S. soil for his next fight in the spring, likely against the WBC's No. 1-rated contender, Alan Picasso.
The WBA is expected to strip Inoue of their title and elevate MJ Akhmadaliev to full champion if Inoue doesn't face Akhmadaliev next — which he isn't touted to.
Darshan Desai
Results from ealier tonight in Japan
Lightweight: Tsubasa Narai def. Kai Watanabe via split decision (96-94, 94-96, 96-94)
John Calipari will make his first visit to Rupp Arena on Saturday since leaving Kentucky for Arkansas. His longtime coaching rival wants Big Blue Nation to treat Calipari with respect.
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