Tag Archives: Naoya Inoue

NAKATANI STOPS CUELLAR IN 3

Posted on February 25, 2025 | Leave a comment

Junto Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) defended his WBC bantamweight title with a third round stoppage of Mexico’s David Cuellar (21-0, 8 KOs) in Tokyo. Nakatani hurt Cuellar to the body with a big left hand, sending the challenger to the canvas in pain for an eight-count. Cuellar got up but Nakatani swarmed him with power shots and ended the fight with another knockdown.

Cuellar fought bravely against the dominant champion, showing no fear in the face of power shots coming from various angles. But the shot to the body that dropped the challenger was a game-changer.

Nakatani staying and unbeaten and winning in dominant fashion just about a month after Naoya Inoue successfully defended his junior featherweight title keeps the hope alive for a super fight between the two lower-weight kings.

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INOUE STOPS KIM IN 4TH

Posted on January 24, 2025 | Leave a comment

AP Photo/Hiro Komae

By Steven Cummings

Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) stopped late replacement Ye-Joon Kim (21-3-2, 13 KOs) as expected on Friday with a fourth-round knockout in Tokyo, Japan. After original opponent Sam Goodman fell out twice due to cuts suffered in training, Kim stepped in and got a demonstration of Inoue’s dominance at 122 pounds.

Kim came out in the southpaw stance and the two fighters did little more than measure each other for most of the first round. The action picked up in the second as Inoue got there with his straight right hand repeatedly. The round ended with Kim’s face reddening.

Kim landed several solid shots to Inoue’s face in round three while his own face started to show the damage from Inoue’s power shots. The champion dug the body with both hands as he zeroed in on his foe.

Kim came out throwing in the fourth round but it only invited Inoue to return heavier shots. A big left hand staggered Kim, who defiantly waved Inoue forward and the end came moments later. Official time of the stoppage was 2:25 of round four.

It was announced immediately after the fight that Inoue’s next action would be in Las Vegas.

 

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