Naoya Inoue Stops Ye Joon Kim to Retain Undisputed Super Bantamweight Crown

Inoue vs Ye Joon Kim Photo Top Rank

TOKYO (Jan. 24, 2025) — Pound-for-pound superstar Naoya "The Monster" Inoue once again delivered a dominant performance, knocking out late replacement Ye Joon Kim in the fourth round at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The undisputed super bantamweight champion thrilled a packed hometown crowd and extended his flawless record to 29-0, with an incredible 26 wins coming by way of knockout.

Inoue faced an unexpected challenge in Kim, who stepped in with less than two weeks' notice after original opponent Sam Goodman was sidelined due to a sparring injury. Despite the late change, Inoue proved why he’s the pound-for-pound king, marking his 24th consecutive world title fight victory—a streak that began in 2014 when he dethroned WBC light flyweight champion Adrian Hernandez.

After a measured opening round, Inoue began to find his rhythm in the second, landing a precise right hand that set the tone for the rest of the fight. By the third round, Inoue’s relentless body attack had Kim visibly hurt, paving the way for a dramatic finish in the fourth. A devastating body shot followed by a perfectly placed right hand dropped Kim, leaving him unable to beat the count.

“My new opponent accepted the bout on 10 days’ notice. I feel a lot of love from everyone. I appreciate it,” Inoue said post-fight. “Overall, I think it was a good match. I didn’t have enough time to study my opponent, so I just took time to see what was coming from him.”

Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum added, “Another great performance by our champion here. Japan has given Los Angeles the great Shohei Ohtani, and at least for one fight, the great Inoue will fight in Las Vegas this spring.”

Jin Sasaki Shines in Co-Feature

In the welterweight co-main event, world-ranked contender Jin Sasaki (19-1-1, 17 KOs) showcased his grit and skill by defending his WBO Asia Pacific and OPBF titles with a 12-round unanimous decision over the durable Shoki Sakai (29-15-3, 15 KOs). Sasaki’s dominance was reflected in the judges’ scores of 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112, extending his unbeaten streak to nine fights.

Sasaki’s victory further solidifies his place as one of the rising stars in the welterweight division, and fans can look forward to seeing him on an even bigger stage in the near future.

What’s Next?

With Inoue eyeing a Las Vegas fight in the spring and Sasaki continuing his ascent, Japanese boxing is shining brighter than ever. Stay tuned to Powcast Sports for all the latest updates on these exciting fighters and more.