Today, Naoya Inoue will make his third defence of the undisputed super-bantamweight titles, as he boxes Ye Joon Kim on short notice.
The unbeaten Inoue, a four-division champion who has been undisputed at two weights, was expecting to fight Sam Goodman here. But a cut over Goodman’s eye, which initially delayed the bout from December until January, reopened this month, forcing the Australian to withdraw for good.
So, in steps Kim, facing a stern test as he looks to take the undisputed belts from Inoue, 31, who has 25 knockouts from 28 unanswered wins as a professional.
Kim, 32, enters Tokyo with a record of 21-2-2 (13 KOs), and the Korean has promised: “I’m different to all the boxers before me. This is my time. I’ll crush him.”
It is a bold vow, as he prepares to box the arguable pound-for-pound No 1 on the “Monster”’s home turf… Follow live updates and results from Inoue vs Kim, below.
Inoue vs Kim LIVE
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Naoya Inoue defends the undisputed super-bantamweight titles against Ye Joon Kim
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Kim steps in for Sam Goodman, who was ruled out of the fight with a cut over his eye
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Inoue also puts his unbeaten record (28-0, 25 KOs) on the line against Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs)
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The Japanese star, 31, faces the Korean, 32, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo
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Inoue is the Indy Sport pound-for-pound No 1, ahead of Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford
