Naoya Inuoe, known as the "Monster" of boxing, faced off against South Korea's Kim Ye-jun on January 24, 2025, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, successfully defending his unified super bantamweight titles for the third time. With this victory, Inuoe continues to solidify his legacy as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters, marking his 10th consecutive knockout win, which ties for the longest knockout streak among Japanese fighters.
Standing at 31 years old, Inuoe asserted his dominance early on, defeating the 32-year-old Kim Ye-jun by knockout within the fourth round. Right off the bat, Kim had been brought in as a substitute challenger for the highly anticipated title defense, taking the place of his original opponent who withdrew due to illness. The pressure was palpable as Kim had previously been dubbed the "Japanese Killer," known for his strong performances leading to this bout.
From the start, Inuoe looked sharp, utilizing his signature left jab and right hook combination, capitalizing on openings from Kim. The end came at 2 minutes and 25 seconds of the fourth round when Inuoe landed a clean combination, prompting the referee to stop the fight as Kim failed to rise after being knocked down. This loss was particularly emotional for Kim, who, following the match, expressed feelings of humiliation during his press conference. He remarked, "I’ve made this decision to become the best, but I’m not at the level yet to face someone like Inuoe. It’s devastating to take such a counter after provocations during the fight."
Bob Arum, the CEO of Top Rank, who promotes Inuoe, attended the event and jubilantly declared plans for Inuoe's future fights, stating, "We are planning for Naoya to fight at the famous Las Vegas venues this spring. Let’s hope no scouts come to watch from the Dodgers." The humorous mention of watching for baseball scouts after discussing Inuoe’s boxing career was well-received by the audience, showing the lighter side of the intensely competitive sport.
After the fight, Inuoe himself expressed satisfaction, saying, “I could feel the support from the fans and it felt great to deliver. I’m aiming for more international matches, including Vegas and Saudi Arabia this year.” With this victory, Inuoe has confirmed his intention to broaden his horizons beyond the Japanese boxing scene and bring his talents to larger audiences.
The match had seen some back-and-forth drama before it even began. Inuoe's team faced challenges as they had to quickly adapt to the change of opponents due to the original challenger becoming ill with influenza. This back-and-forth over the bout led to what would become one of Inuoe’s most closely watched career moments.
Kim Ye-jun flashed confidence before the bout, aggressively challenging Inuoe with taunts and demanding, "Come on!" But the outcome spoke volumes about the disparity between the fighters’ current capabilities. The post-fight fallout saw Kim surrounded by sympathy as he struggled with his emotions, describing his experience as humiliational. Social media exploded with reactions, with many fans and analysts cautioning against provoking Inuoe—highlighting the dangers of taunting someone with his knockout power.
Critics have since pointed out the strategy behind Kim's taunts during the match. They emphasized it as more than just psychological warfare; it hinted at his desperation and unyielding spirit to not back down. Yet, many felt this tactic perhaps not only motivated Inuoe but led Kim to expose his weaknesses during the fight, resulting in his downfall.
Following the event, the atmosphere was electric with excitement about Inuoe’s future. Fans eagerly anticipated how the super bantamweight champion would adapt to larger stages and stiffer competition abroad. Bob Arum has promised to maintain the momentum from this victory, stating, “Las Vegas is waiting for the Monster of Japan; we have plans lining up and they could not be more exciting.”
With his focus abroad, Inuoe hopes to break records and capture titles previously held by legends, perhaps even eclipsing the legendary Canelo Alvarez's boxing record. The stakes have never been higher for Inuoe, and with this recent victory echoing through the boxing community, there is speculation and expectation around his next moves.
This match, though just another notch on Inuoe's title belt, serves as a stepping stone to unprecedented heights he is determined to reach. Fans and commentators alike eagerly await the next bout, keeping one eye on Inuoe and another on the Tokyo arenas to see if the excitement can be replicated and if Kim Ye-jun can recover and rise again after what many are calling one of the defining fights of his career.