Naoya Inoue Secures Another Knockout Victory, Sets Sights on Las Vegas

Undefeated boxing sensation Naoya Inoue, known as “The Monster,” continued his reign of dominance with a spectacular fourth-round knockout victory over late replacement Ye-Joon Kim. The bout took place at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, where Inoue successfully defended his four world junior featherweight titles.

The 31-year-old Japanese champion, boasting a perfect record of 29 wins with 26 knockouts, swiftly dispatched his South Korean opponent with a devastating right hand. This triumph marks Inoue’s 24th consecutive title defense and 10th straight stoppage win.

Following the match, Inoue expressed his excitement for the year ahead, stating, “I’m confident that 2025 will be a landmark year for my career.” He acknowledged the challenge of facing a last-minute opponent but was pleased with his performance overall.

Looking to the future, Inoue’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, confirmed plans for the champion to showcase his skills in Las Vegas this spring. Potential opponents include Mexican fighter Alan Picasso, the WBC’s top contender, or fellow Japanese boxer Junto Nakatani, the current WBC world bantamweight champion.

Inoue also hinted at his global ambitions, saying, “2025 is the year for me to compete internationally. I’m planning fights in both Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia this year.” The boxer last fought in the United States in 2021, when he knocked out Michael Dasmarinas in Las Vegas.

As Inoue continues to dominate the sport, he remains focused on improvement. “I’m not sure how complete I am as a fighter, but my goal is to get better with each bout. I’m committed to fulfilling my potential until the end of my career,” he added.

With this latest victory, Naoya Inoue solidifies his position as one of boxing’s most exciting and formidable champions, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his next moves on the international stage.