TOKYO (Oct. 23, 2024) – Boxing’s most prolific undisputed king is ready to close out the year on a ‘Monster’ note.

Naoya Inoue will defend his super bantamweight crown against unbeaten Australian contender Sam Goodman on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

Inoue will make an unprecedented third defense of his undisputed crown within a single calendar year while looking to secure his 10th consecutive knockout.

Inoue-Goodman will headline a special early-morning broadcast streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. In the co-feature, Yoshiki Takei (10-0, 8 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight world title against an opponent to be named.

Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) began his four-belt legacy in December 2022 when he stopped Paul Butler to unify all the bantamweight titles. Then, within a little over a year, the 31-year-old knocked out WBC/WBO champ Stephen Fulton in July 2023 and WBA/IBF king Marlon Tapales that December to achieve undisputed glory in a second weight class. He made history again in May by headlining the first boxing card at the Tokyo Dome since the historic Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas showdown, overcoming a first-round knockdown before icing former two-division world champion Luis Nery in six. In September, he registered a seventh-round TKO over one-time junior featherweight king TJ Doheny.

Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) is a 26-year-old Australian who entered the paid ranks in 2018. He went 4-0 in 2023, earning points victories over Doheny as well as then-unbeaten talents Ra’eese Aleem and Zhong Liu. He authored a fourth-round TKO against Mark Schleibs in March before decisioning previously unbeaten Thachtana Luangphon across 12 in July. 

(Sept. 25, 2024) — ESPN today announced its new ESPN Original Series, The Fight Life, will premiere on ESPN+ on October 7, with subsequent linear airings across ESPN2. 

The series chronicles a year in the world of Top Rank boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers — Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor — alongside unprecedented and exclusive behind-the-scenes access with Top Rank’s executives. As the boxers prepare for some of the biggest fights of their careers, episodes document the traveling circus that is the business of the sport, offering a living, breathing, punching, 360-degree portrait of “the fight life.”

“The Fight Life showcases all the traits that make boxing so compelling: rich personal stories of sacrifice and determination, pressure-packed stakes, and of course – conflict,” said Lindsay Rovegno, Vice President of Production for ESPN Originals. “Whether you’re a diehard boxing fan or someone who just loves great characters and high-quality storytelling, this exciting new series features the unique perspectives of exceptional fighters that we’re excited to share with viewers.”

The Fight Life is produced by ESPN in association with Words + Pictures and Top Rank.
Episode descriptions and streaming/linear schedule (tentative and subject to change) are outlined below.

Episode Descriptions
EPISODE 1 | Tyson Fury: A Heavyweight Task
Premieres on ESPN+ on October 7 | Airs on ESPN2 on October 9 at 6pm ET
Tyson Fury gears up for a showdown against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk to crown boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years. After a near-defeat to MMA star Francis Ngannou, “The Gypsy King” must prove he still sits atop the heavyweight throne. Go behind the scenes with the executives and matchmakers of Top Rank as they shape the business of boxing.
 
EPISODE 2 | Teofimo Lopez: The Giant Slayer
Premieres on ESPN+ on October 8 | Airs on ESPN2 on October 16 at 10:30pm ET
Teofimo Lopez prepares for a career-defining clash against reigning WBO junior welterweight world champion Josh Taylor. Following several subpar outings, including losing his lightweight crown to George Kambosos Jr., the Top Rank brass question if the mercurial Lopez still has what it takes. Once considered the future of boxing, Lopez has one last shot to prove he’s still one of the sport’s most sublime talents.
 
EPISODE 3 | Josh Taylor: The Crossroads
Premieres on ESPN+ on October 9 | Airs on ESPN2 on October 16 at 11pm ET
After losing his WBO belt to Teofimo Lopez, Josh Taylor must face the question: how many more chances will he have to fight at the top of the sport? Age and injury have begun to plague the former undisputed champion, but his path to recapturing his junior welterweight title starts with a rematch against past rival Jack Catterall. It’s a fight that Top Rank executives make clear will dictate Taylor’s future in the sport.
 
EPISODE 4 | Seniesa Estrada: Love & Hate
Premieres on ESPN+ on October 10 | Airs on ESPN2 on October 16 at 11:30pm ET
Seniesa “Super Bad” Estrada has dreamed of becoming the undisputed champion of the world, and she finally has her shot against fellow unified champion Yokasta Valle. Estrada is a trailblazer in women’s boxing, but to become the first-ever undisputed minimumweight world champion, she must overcome injury and the mental pressure of settling a personal score against her former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
 
EPISODE 5 | Naoya Inoue: The Perfect Fighter
Premieres on ESPN+ on October 11 | Airs on ESPN2 on October 22 at 12:30am ET
Many experts consider Naoya “Monster” Inoue to be the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, and to Top Rank executives who’ve been in the business for decades, one of the best fighters they’ve ever seen. But for many Western fans, the undefeated Japanese star is the greatest fighter you’ve never heard of. The undisputed junior featherweight champion can make a global statement when he faces Japanese boxing’s most reviled figure, Luis Nery, in front of a sold-out crowd of 50,000-plus at the world-renowned Tokyo Dome.

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By Norm Frauenheim –

Naoya Inoue, tireless and talented, emerges from a victory that was mostly predictable, yet still notable for what it means to a brilliant career moving into another chapter.

An even bigger stage.

Forget the fight, which ended with TJ Doheny limping across the canvas in the seventh round like an old man in need of a walker after Inoue’s  succession of lethal body blows apparently damaged a sciatic nerve in the Irishman’s lower back Tuesday in Tokyo.

Inoue looked as if he was disappointed at a performance that didn’t meet expectations he has created for himself. Sure enough, disappointment was the word used to describe the fight in several reports. He wanted more. Inoue always wants more. He’s still a work in progress, said the fighter with a  spectacular skillset complemented by an over achiever’s energy and work ethic.

Progress is the promise in what was the real news to come from Inoue’s one-sided victory in another junior-featherweight title defense. Post-fight, Inoue promoter Bob Arum offered a business plan, including a Christmas Eve fight in Tokyo, a return to the United States in Vegas in perhaps April and a return to Japan for a biggie against Junto Nakatani, who for now looks to be Inoue’s biggest threat.

The planned return to the US is the biggest news. Maybe the most surprising, too. Inoue hasn’t fought in the US since June, 2021, a stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas. It was the second of only two US appearances, the first a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney, also in Vegas at the MGM Grand in Oct, 2020. Since, then he has stayed in Japan, going 7-0. 

The word was that Japan’s rising son would stay at home. The money, especially for a fighter in a lighter weight class, was bigger than he could get in the US. There was no reason to travel. Over the last three-plus years, however, his celebrity has gone international. It’s not Shohei Ohtani big. It’s not even Manny Pacquiao big. But it’s growing with evidence that there’s potential for more. 

The Inoue expected to fight in Vegas in April will be a lot better-known to US fans than the one who fought there years ago. This time, it’s a step to make Inoue a worldwide celebrity and a fighter in a small weight class with a skillset dynamic enough to keep him at the top of the pound-for-pound debate for a while.

Call it an initial move toward a genuine legacy, rare in Japanese boxing. Plans, of course, are as vulnerable as boxing’s proverbial glass chin. They get broken all the time. But Top Rank’s Bob is the right promoter for the job. He was a key to turning Tyson Fury into an international celebrity when he brought him to Vegas, where he fought, lived and sang for a couple of years. Arum has also had more success with small fighters than perhaps anybody in the business. He turned junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal into a star in the 1990s.

In Inoue, however, there’s just much more potential. He’s a former 108-pound champion who has gone on to four titles at four weights, including two undisputed — putting him alongside Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk in the history of boxing’s four-belt era. It looks as if his stardom is about to spread, from Asia to America.

The first step in Arum’s plan appears to be a mandatory defense against unbeaten Australian Sam Goodman. Then, there’s Vegas, perhaps against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, an Uzbekistan fighter who many believe looms as a tougher test than Goodman. However, Akhmadaliev lost to Marlon Tapales, whom Inoue stopped in a 10th-round knockout last December. Tapales, a Filipino southpaw, is coming back Saturday in Cambodia against Saurabh Kumar.

At this stage of the plan, all options lead to Nakatani in a fight that has the potential to be the biggest in Japanese history. The 26-year-old Nakatani, an unbeaten bantamweight champion, is younger than the 31-year-old Inoue. He’s also bigger. He’s three-inches taller. All of the talk is about Inoue-Nakatani. But Inoue is talking about his own brother, Takuma, a once-beaten bantamweight champion.

In post-fight interviews Tuesday, Inoue told Japanese media that Nakatani has to fight his brother first. Nakatani might get that chance on either Christmas Eve or in Vegas in April. Nakatani in a co-main event with Inoue on either card or both makes sense. Dollars, too

Can Inoue beat Nakatani? Hard to say. But the guess here: Yes. He beat Nonito Donaire. If he can beat Donaire, he beats Nakatani.

If he does, a dream fight awaits. Even now, there’s talk about Jesse Rodriguez versus Inoue, Bam versus Monster. Rodriguez was asked about it last June after he scored two knockdowns and got up for one in a dramatic stoppage of an accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada in Phoenix.

Rodriguez , the World Boxing Council’s 115-pound champion, is expected to fight Estrada again in a contracted rematch. If — as expected — he beats Estrada again, he hopes to unify the title against Fernando Martinez, an unbeaten Argentine, who has two of the belts after a decision over Kazuto Ioka in Tokyo on July 7.

Then Inoue? Only if everything works out in a a plan that a could create a stage as big as any.

By Norm Frauenheim –

In a political season, Naoya Inoue’s campaign for supremacy in the pound-for-pound race is gaining momentum for a reason that separates him from everybody else.

He’s busy.

Inoue, tireless inside the ring and outside of it, continues an old-school schedule not seen in decades against TJ Doheny in Tokyo Tuesday. 

It’s his third fight since December, his fourth over the last 13 months. Doheny isn’t expected to be much of a challenge. Other than perhaps fellow Japanese fighter Junto Nakatani, who is these days? 

The biggest surprise is that you can actually bet on this fight. Five days before opening bell at Ariake Arena (ESPN+, 5:45 a.m. ET), Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) is favored, minus-5000. 

In other words, Doheny has a better chance at stopping climate change. Still, the odds aren’t impossible, either. There are no prohibitive favorites, at least not in boxing. 

According to the oddsmakers, Doheny has about as much of a chance as Buster Douglas had against Mike Tyson, a 42-1 favorite in 1990, also in Tokyo. Douglas won that one, scoring an upset as stunning as any in history. Anything is possible, especially in boxing, where cheap shots are the only sure thing. 

But don’t expect climate to quit changing. History isn’t going to repeat itself. Instead, Japan’s rising son is poised to make some more history of his own in a junior-featherweight fight that promises to further his argument that there’s nobody better. 

The 37-year-old Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) an Australian-based fighter and former 122-pound belt-holder, is well known to Japanese fans. His last three fights have been in Tokyo. He’ll be there again Tuesday, this time in a role that figures to showcase Inoue’s dynamic skillset.

The best bet here: Inoue emerges from Tuesday’s fight as the consensus No.1 in the pound-for-pound debate. 

A comprehensive stoppage of a durable Doheny, who has never been knocked out, would provide further evidence on a resume uninterrupted by the idle stretches that leave questions about his rivals. These days, world-class fighters fight once or twice between birthdays

Inactivity is hard to judge.

Busy is not.

It’s the busy — an accumulation of timely evidence — that gives Inoue a decisive edge in a three-way race that has included Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk. 

It’s been close, almost impossible to call, mostly because all three are the only two division undisputed champs in the game’s four-belt history — Inoue (bantamweight and junior-feather), Crawford (junior-welter and welterweight) and Usyk (cruiser and heavyweight).

On this pound-for-pound list, Crawford has been No. 1 for a couple of years. But, now, there is uncertainty, questions about his last performance in a narrow win at a new weight, 154-pounds, in a decision over Israil Madrimov, a competent belt-holder, yet known more for his amateur accomplishments than his pro career. 

There are also questions about what’s next for Crawford, who returned to the ring against Madrimov after more than a year away from the ring in the aftermath of his defining welterweight triumph over Errol Spence.

Quotes from him and his new representative, Saudi Prince Turki Alalshikh, indicate he’s thinking only Canelo or retirement. He’s been interested in a fight against 168-pound champion Canelo Alvarez.

For now, however, there’s been no reported interest from him about a fight at 154 pounds against Vergil Ortiz Jr., or a rematch against a deserving Madrimov.

Crawford won’t know what’s next until after Canelo’s probable victory over Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. Canelo hasn’t said he’ll fight Crawford. He hasn’t said he will. Maybe, Crawford gets a definitive answer. Maybe, not.  

If Canelo says no, there’s a chance Crawford retires. He’ll be 37 on Sept. 28, an age that would make a bid for a third undisputed title at a third weight problematic against the young lions at junior-middle.

Then, there’s Usyk, the Ukrainian, whose tactical know how and unwavering discipline has kept him unbeaten. But will that stubborn spirit and intelligent skillset continue to? 

He faces an intriguing rematch on Dec. 21 in Riyadh of his split decision over Tyson Fury on May 18, his first fight after only one fight in 2023 — a ninth-round stoppage of Daniel Dubois in Poland in August of that year. 

It goes without saying that Usyk’s victory over Fury was controversial. By definition, split decisions always are. There were moments when it looked as if Fury would/could win. Maybe with a little bit more discipline and less clowning, he will. By now, it’s safe to say Usyk will keep it close.

For now, however, that’s just another question at a time when Inoue is busy.

Busy delivering all the answers.  

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN, Inoue vs. Doheny, will be presented live this Tuesday, September 3, at a special early start time of 5:45 a.m. ET/ 2:45 a.m. PT, exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. The event takes place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will make defense number two of his undisputed super bantamweight crown against former world champion TJ Doheny.

Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), a four-division world champion and pound-for-pound standout, has made Ariake Arena his boxing home in recent years. It’s where he knocked out Paul Butler to win the undisputed bantamweight title in December 2022, defeated Stephen Fulton for two super bantamweight titles in July 2023, and dominated Marlon Tapales for the undisputed crown last December. Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) is 4-0 when fighting on Japanese soil, including a knockout win over Bryl Bayogos on the Inoue-Luis Nery undercard at Tokyo Dome in May.

In the co-feature, WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) will make his first title defense against former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs).

Timothy Bradley, Jr. and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

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Inoue vs. Doheny (All Times ET)

(Aug. 20, 2024) — Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will make defense number two of his undisputed super bantamweight crown against former world champion TJ Doheny on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

This special five-fight extravaganza will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 2:30 a.m. ET.

In the co-feature, WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) will make his first title defense against former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs).

Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), the four-division world champion and pound-for-pound mainstay, has made Ariake Arena his boxing home in recent years. It’s the venue where he knocked out Paul Butler to win the undisputed bantamweight world title in December 2022, stopped then-unified super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton title in July 2023, and dominated Marlon Tapales over 10 rounds last December to become the undisputed super bantamweight king. Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) is 4-0 when fighting on Japanese soil, including May’s knockout of Bryl Bayogos on the Inoue-Luis Nery undercard at Tokyo Dome.

In other scheduled fight action on ESPN+:

Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) vs. Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs), 12 Rounds, Junior Welterweight: Barroso, the 41-year-old Venezuelan puncher, returns following January’s first-round knockout of Ohara Davies. Japanese phenom Hiraoka makes his 2024 debut following last December’s fifth-round TKO over Sebastian Diaz Maldonado on the Inoue-Tapales undercard.

Jin Sasaki (17-1-1, 16 KOs) vs. Qamil Balla (15-1-1, 8 KOs), 12 Rounds, Welterweight: Action star Sasaki, ranked No. 2 by the WBO, has knocked out his last five opponents. Australia’s Balla has won four straight since a decision defeat to countryman George Kambosos Jr.

Toshiki Shimomachi (18-1-3, 12 KOs) vs. Ryuya Tsugawa (13-1, 9 KOs), 10 Rounds, Japanese Super Bantamweight Title: Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 19 fights, makes the third defense of his Japanese title. Knockout artist Tsugawa is riding a nine-fight winning streak, including eight by stoppage.

TOKYO (July 16, 2024) — Pound-for-pound icon Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend his undisputed super bantamweight world championship against Irish-born former world champion TJ Doheny on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Inoue, a two-weight undisputed king, has knocked out eight consecutive foes.
 
Inoue-Doheny headlines a star-studded card streaming live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. This special early morning broadcast will also include WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) defending his belt against former flyweight world champion Daigo Higa (21-2-1, 19 KOs).

Venezuelan puncher Ismael Barroso (25-4-2, 23 KOs) will defend his interim junior welterweight world title versus rising Japanese contender Andy Hiraoka (23-0, 18 KOs) in undercard action.

“Naoya Inoue is a generational talent, and every time he fights, the boxing world stops to watch the master at work,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “TJ Doheny is a veteran who can never be counted out, as he’s defied the odds many times when fighting in Japan.”
 
Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) claimed his first world title more than 10 years ago and is 22-0 with 20 knockouts in world championship fights. Inoue’s undisputed legacy began in December 2022 when he knocked out Paul Butler to unify all the bantamweight titles. He then consolidated the super bantamweight division in short order, capturing the WBC and WBO world titles by stopping Stephen Fulton in eight in July 2023 before vanquishing WBA/IBF champion Marlon Tapales that December. The 31-year-old powerhouse, named 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN and Ring Magazine, returned to headline at the historic Tokyo Dome in May. In the first boxing card there since Buster Douglas shocked Mike Tyson in 1990, Inoue survived a first-round knockdown to KO Mexican two-division champ Luis Nery in six.
  
Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs) has a rich history in Japan and against Japanese fighters. He is 3-0 against Japanese fighters and 4-0 on Japanese soil, with three victories as the betting underdog. Doheny dethroned IBF junior featherweight world champion Ryosuke Iwasa on enemy territory in August 2018. He defended the belt against Japanese challenger Ryohei Takahashi via 11th-round TKO the following January before losing the strap to Danny Roman in a close unification fight that April. Despite some setbacks, Doheny has rebounded with three consecutive wins on Japanese turf. He defeated Kazuki Nakajima via fourth-round TKO in June 2023, blasted out Japhethlee Llamido by first-round stoppage last October, and triumphed over Bryl Bayogos in four rounds on the Inoue-Nery undercard.

Naoya Inoue and Amanda Serrano, universally recognized among the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters, have confirmed that they will be attending the 99th Boxing Writers Association of America awards dinner at Park 583, at 583 Park Avenue, in Manhattan, New York, on Thursday, June 6th, beginning at 6 p.m.

Inoue will receive the prestigious Sugar Ray Robinson Award as the 2023 BWAA Fighter of the Year, making history as the first Japanese fighter to win one of boxing’s most prized historic honors, which dates back to Jack Dempsey in 1938. Serrano is the 2023 Female Fighter of the Year, earning that award for the second time in three years. Fights of the Year, Manager, Trainer, Broadcaster, Journalism, and Courage awards will also be presented.

Tickets can only be purchased prior to the event and not at the door.    

The glittering evening in a landmark venue on Park Avenue will include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, open bar, dinner, silent auction and a gift bag for every attendee. A very limited number of VIP tickets are available with premium seating and additional special gift.

Tables are quickly filling up and the BWAA awards dinner journal deadline is approaching. Attached are a seat reservation form, journal reservation form, a list of all honorees and a general information page.

Please go to the website at bwaa.org for further information. Feel free to contact Gina Andriolo directly with any questions.

Naoya Inoue, universally recognized as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, has confirmed that he will be attending the 99th Boxing Writers Association of America awards dinner at the 583 Park Avenue venue, at 583 Park Ave, in Manhattan, New York, on Thursday, June 6th, beginning at 6 p.m.

Inoue will receive the prestigious Sugar Ray Robinson Award as the 2023 BWAA Fighter of the Year, making history as the first Japanese fighter to win one of boxing’s most prized historic honors, which dates back to Jack Dempsey in 1938. Amanda Serrano is the 2023 Female Fighter of the Year, earning that award for the second time in three years. Fights of the Year, Manager, Trainer, Broadcaster, Journalism, and Courage awards will also be presented.

The glittering evening in a landmark venue on Park Avenue will include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, open bar, dinner, silent auction and a gift bag for every attendee. A very limited number of VIP tickets are available with premium seating and additional special gift.

Tables are quickly filling up and the BWAA awards dinner journal deadline is approaching. Attached are a seat reservation form, journal reservation form, a list of all honorees and a general information page.

Please go to the website at bwaa.org for further information. Feel free to contact Gina Andriolo directly with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, June 6th!

Naoya Inoue, universally recognized as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, has confirmed that he will be attending the 99th Boxing Writers Association of America awards dinner at the 583 Park Avenue venue, at 583 Park Ave, in Manhattan, New York, on Thursday, June 6th, beginning at 6 p.m.

Inoue will receive the prestigious Sugar Ray Robinson Award as the 2023 BWAA Fighter of the Year, making history as the first Japanese fighter to win one of boxing’s most prized historic honors, which dates back to Jack Dempsey in 1938. Amanda Serrano is the 2023 Female Fighter of the Year, earning that award for the second time in three years. Fights of the Year, Manager, Trainer, Broadcaster, Journalism, and Courage awards will also be presented.

The glittering evening in a landmark venue on Park Avenue will include cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, open bar, dinner, silent auction and a gift bag for every attendee. A very limited number of VIP tickets are available with premium seating and additional special gift.

Tables are quickly filling up and the BWAA awards dinner journal deadline is approaching. Attached are a seat reservation form, journal reservation form, a list of all honorees and a general information page.

Please go to the website at bwaa.org for further information. Feel free to contact Gina Andriolo directly with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, June 6th!

TOKYO (May 6, 2024) —It had been more than 34 years since the Tokyo Dome hosted a boxing event. Naoya “Monster” Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), boxing’s pound-for-pound king, made it worth the wait. Inoue scored a sixth-round TKO over Mexican former two-division world champion Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) in front a packed house Monday evening to defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship.

This marked the 22nd world title victory for Inoue, who recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of winning his first world title.

“Inoue is among the greatest fighters I’ve promoted, and he was sensational once again. Nery came to win, but ‘The Monster’ was too much,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.

Inoue was floored early by a counter left hand in the opening stanza as he closed in on Nery. The 31-year-old returned the favor in the following round by sending Nery to the canvas with a counter left hook. Inoue then began breaking Nery down during the ensuing rounds before dropping him again with a left hook in the fifth. In the sixth, the pound-four-pound great landed consecutive right hands to end the fight at 1:22.

Inoue said, “I appreciate Nery. That’s why I shook hands with him after the fight. The knockdown motivated me. I am thankful to have fought against a great fighter in Nery.

“I don’t remember anything my dad {head trainer Shingo Inoue} told me in the intermission, but that happening gave me motivation. I was so focused until the end of the fight.

“Thank you so much to everyone for witnessing my fight. There are over 40,000 people here in the Tokyo Dome. I promise that I will keep giving you fights that get you excited.”

Takei Dethrones Moloney

Japanese former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei earned boxing hardware in just his ninth pro fight, using his length and tricky southpaw style to topple WBO Bantamweight World Champion Jason Moloney (27-3. 19 KOs) via unanimous decision.

Takei (9-0, 8 KOs) prevailed by scores of 116-111 2x and 117-110. Moloney had Takei badly hurt and out on his feet in the final round, but the Japanese upstart survived the late charge to notch the well-earned decision. 

Bantamweight: Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KOs) UD 12 Sho Ishida (34-4, 17 KOs). Scores: 118-109 2x and 116-111. Inoue, Naoya’s younger brother, made the first successful defense of his WBA Bantamweight World Title.

Flyweight: Seigo Yuri Akui (20-2-1, 11 KOs) UD 12 Taku Kuwahara (13-2, 8 KOs). Scores: 118-110 and 117-111 2x. Akui retains the WBA Flyweight World Title.

    •  Naoya Inoue 121 3/4 lbs. vs. Luis Nery 121 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 7:35 a.m. ET/4:35 a.m. PT
(Inoue’s Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title – 12 Rounds)
Referee: Michael Griffin 
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Jose Roberto Torres and Adam Height

   •  Jason Moloney 117 3/4  lbs vs. Yoshiki Takei 117 3/4 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 6:25 a.m. ET/3:25 a.m. PT
(Moloney’s WBO Bantamweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Steve Willis
Judges: Benoit Roussel, Ellis Johnson and Lou Moret

•  Takuma Inoue 117 3/4 lbs vs. Sho Ishida 117 3/4 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 5:20 a.m. ET/2:20 a.m. PT
 (Inoue’s WBA Bantamweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Luis Pabon
Judges: Pinit Prayadsab, Kazunobu Asao and Michiaki Someya

•  Seigo Yuri Akui 112 lbs vs. Taku Kuwahara 112 lbs
ESTIMATED RING WALK TIME: 4:10 a.m. ET/1:10 a.m. PT
 (Akui’s WBA Flyweight World Title — 12 Rounds)
Referee: Raul Caiz Jr.
Judges: Pinit Prayadsab, Jose Roberto Torres and Yoshikazu Furuta

(May 1, 2024) Top Rank Boxing on ESPN presented by AutoZone: Inoue vs. Nery and three additional world title fights will be presented live Monday, May 6, at a special early start time of 4 a.m. ET/ 1 a.m. PT exclusively on ESPN+. The event takes place at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan and kicks off Top Rank’s MAYhem Tour featuring 12 world title fights spanning four continents with 21 world champion belts up for grabs.

In the main event, undisputed junior featherweight world champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend all the belts against Mexican puncher Luis “Pantera” Nery.

Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) won his first world title in April 2014 and has been flawless ever since. He sports an astounding 21-0 record in world title fights, including 19 knockouts. He was named 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN.com and Ring Magazine and makes his 2024 debut intent on solidifying his stranglehold over the division.

Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) is a former two weight world champion who won the WBC title at both bantamweight and junior featherweight. Since his loss to Brandon Figueroa in 2021, he has won four straight fights, including a sensational 11th-round knockout over Azat Hovhannisyan in one of last year’s most intense matches.

In the co-feature, Australia’s WBO bantamweight world champion, Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his belt against rising knockout artist and former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs).

The world title quadruple-header also features WBA bantamweight world champion Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), younger brother of Naoya, who defends his title against former world title challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs).And, in a flyweight world title tilt, newly minted WBA world champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) battles Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 encounter, which Akui won by 10^th-round TKO.

Calling the action will be ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr.

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

Inoue vs. Nery (All Times ET)

TOKYO (March 5, 2024) — Japan’s pound-for-pound hero is set to headline the biggest boxing event his country has ever seen. Undisputed junior featherweight world champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend all the belts against Mexican puncher Luis “Pantera” Nery on Monday, May 6 at the Tokyo Dome.
 
Inoue, a four-weight world champion and two-weight undisputed king, will headline at the iconic venue for the first time.
 
Inoue-Nery and three additional world title showdowns will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.  Australia’s WBO bantamweight world champion, Jason “Mayhem” Moloney will defend his belt against rising knockout artist and former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei.
 
The world title quadruple-header also features WBA bantamweight world champion Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), younger brother of Naoya, who defends his title against former world title challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs). And, in a flyweight world title tilt, newly minted WBA world champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) battles Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 Japanese title bout, which Akui won by 10^th-round TKO.
 
“Naoya Inoue is the world’s best fighter, a young man who amazes me every time he steps in the ring. Luis Nery is a tough challenger, but I fully expect Inoue to get the job done in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “In addition to this incredible main event, we have a spectacular undercard highlighted by Jason Moloney, a road warrior who is coming to Japan determined to show he’s the world’s best bantamweight.”
 
The Tokyo Dome, which opened in March 1988, has a brief-but-storied boxing history. Four days after the venue’s grand opening, Mike Tyson defended the undisputed heavyweight championship with a second-round TKO over Tony Tubbs in front of 51,000 spectators. The last professional boxing event at “The Big Egg” took place in February 1990. In one of sport’s greatest upsets, James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Tyson in the 10^th round to capture the undisputed crown.
 
Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) won his first world title in April 2014 and has been flawless ever since. He sports an astounding 21-0 record in world title fights, including 19 knockouts. He became undisputed champion in two weight classes in 378 days, knocking out Paul Butler in December 2022 to become the bantamweight ruler and stopping Marlon Tapales last December to unify the junior featherweight division. Five months before the Tapales triumph, Inoue stopped the previously undefeated two-belt American champion, Stephen Fulton, in his junior featherweight debut. He was named 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN.com and Ring Magazine and makes his 2024 debut intent on solidifying his stranglehold over the division.
 
Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) is a former two weight world champion who won the WBC title at both bantamweight and junior featherweight. Nery lost his bantamweight title after missing weight for his 2018 rematch against Shinsuke Yamanaka, the man he dethroned for the belt the previous year. He won a decision over Aaron Alameda in 2020 to become a two-weight world champion. Nery’s unbeaten run ended the following year with a seventh-round stoppage loss to Brandon Figueroa in a title unification tilt. He has won four straight fights since the Figueroa setback, including a sensational 11th-round knockout over Azat Hovhannisyan last February in one of the year’s best fights.
 
Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) won world title honors in his third attempt, turning back Filipino veteran Vincent Astrolabio by majority decision last May. He defended his WBO strap in January with a back-and-forth battle against Saul Sanchez in Quebec City, Canada. Moloney retained his title by majority decision and will travel to foreign soil once again. Takei (8-0, 8 KOs) is a southpaw who turned pro in March 2021 and quickly climbed the rankings. He last fought on the Inoue-Tapales undercard, knocking out Mario Diaz Maldonado in the second round. He went 23-2 with 16 knockouts as a kickboxer and held the K-1 Super Bantamweight Championship for nearly three years.

Moloney said, “I’ve always wanted to fight in Japan, and to do it on this huge show in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tokyo Dome is what dreams are made of. I want to be known as a throwback world champion. I won my title in America, defended it in Canada, and now I’m willing to go into enemy territory and defend my title in Japan against the undefeated Yoshiki Takei. I know the Japanese fans will enjoy this fight, and I look forward to making some new fans in Japan and all over the world. On May 6, I will show the world what the ‘Mayhem Era’ is all about!”

By Norm Frauenheim –

One year ends and another begins with a re-energized debate ignited by Naoya Inoue, who didn’t let a chance at a year-ending statement go to waste.

Inoue was efficient for his blend of power plus precision. He was extraordinary for his consistency. He’s not going anywhere. Neither is Terence Crawford.

A good case for both can made in Fighter-of-the-Year and pound-for-pound arguments. Take a poll, and you might get a draw.

From this corner, Inoue gets Fighter of the Year for his brilliance over two bouts, first Stephen Fulton in July and then Marlon Tapales Tuesday in Tokyo. He moves up in weight, from bantam to junior-feather, and continues to do what he did at junior-fly in 2014.

Fighter of the Year? How about Fighter of the Last Decade?

At the top of this pound-for-pound scale, however, it’s still Crawford for a singular performance, best of the year, in stopping fellow welterweight Errol Spence Jr. There’s a lot of talk that Spence was/is shot. Maybe. Still there’s no substantive evidence – no documented answers — to the questions included in all that talk.

What we did see was an extraordinary Crawford, whose dynamic skillset had a lot – perhaps everything – to do with making a onetime pound-for-pound contender look shot.

The eye test continues to say that nobody – not even Inoue — has Crawford’s quick-silver versatility or calculated ability to make the right adjustment at the right time. He’s still boxing’s best finisher, a fighter with a predatory instinct. He knows how and when to close the show.

With only one fight, however, he just didn’t do enough of it last year. Inoue did. Hence, this corner’s split ballot.

But there are no losers in this debate. It’s the debate itself, its intensity, that gives the business some vital momentum going into 2024.

The biggest news story in 2023 was Showtime’s decision in October to leave ringside after a 37-year run of boxing telecasts. In its final year, the network provided what could be a good springboard into a new — pivotal — year, especially with the pay-per-view bouts featuring Tank Davis-Ryan Garcia in April and Crawford-Spence in July.

A reported pay-per-view number of 1.2 million for Davis-Garcia proved there was still an audience out there, despite all the doom-and-gloom that suggested boxing was dying all over again.

Then, there was Crawford-Spence, a long-awaited fight that restored faith among hard-core fans that big fights could still get made.

What’s next? Amazon Prime. It and Saudi money figure to be the biggest stories in 2024. It’s still not known how much Amazon Prime will invest in the sport as boxing’s next broadcast platform. Meanwhile, the Saudis have already shown they’re willing to spend, especially on the heavyweights. But the sport’s inherent unpredictability is always a risk.

To wit: Joseph Parker’s one-sided decision over Deontay Wilder on Dec. 23 in a stunner that upset a bigger plan: Wilder-versus-Anthony Joshua.

Still, there are a lot of fights to be made, up-and-down the scale. Just listen to the Crawford-Inoue debate. It sounds like potential business.

Notes

Oscar Valdez Jr., badly bloodied and beaten by Emanuel Navarrete on August 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale AZ, is back in the gym, according to social-media footage posted this week. The 33-year-old Valdez is popular in Mexico and Arizona. The Mexican Olympian went to school in Tucson. The former featherweight and junior-lightweight champ hopes for a possible comeback in March.

More year-end talk: Crawford and Inoue are at the top of the debate. Devin Haney is third in most of the Fighter-of the-Year conversation. For the first-time, super-middleweight David Benavidez is getting mentioned among the first five possibilities. Benavidez probably wouldn’t put himself there. After his solid decision over Caleb Plant in March and beat-down of Demetrius Andrade in November, the Phoenix-born fighter said he still had to work to do to gain pound-for-pound recognition. But Fighter-of-the-Year consideration is the kind recognition that further strengthens his case for a shot at Canelo Alvarez in May or September

By Norm Frauenheim –

A year that included a goodbye to Showtime and hello to Amazon Prime is about to end. First, in Saudi Arabia. Then, Japan.

The Saudi stop Saturday (DAZN/11 a.m. ET) is $ignificant, mostly because of the heavyweight money, which brings together rival promoters who will only stop feuding if the price is right. We knew that, of course.

Still, it’s important to always remember that this is prizefighting, emphasis on prize. Show Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren the money, and they’ll smile for the cameras and do the business that makes big fights.

The stop in Japan three days later, Dec. 26, is at least noteworthy, perhaps historical. Naoya Inoue, the best former junior-flyweight to move up the scale to stardom since Manny Pacquiao and Roman Gonzalez, is poised to do what nobody else ever has:

Japan’s first Fighter of the Year.

The Ring, more than a century-old since first published in 1922, has been picking a Fighter of the Year since 1928. The Boxing Writers Association of America has been picking one since 1938. But never one from Japan.

A victory over Filipino Marlon Tapales in Tokyo (ESPN+/3 a.m. ET) might do it, although there’s still a good argument for Terence Crawford.

From this corner, nobody in 2023 was better than Crawford in his singular performance, a brilliant ninth-round stoppage of Errol Spence Jr. in May. He settled the pound-for-pound argument. There’s been no debate since then: Crawford No 1; Inoue No. 2.

But Inoue can change that, reignite the pound-for-pound debate and probably ensure his Fighter of the Year selection with more brilliance of his own in a defense of the junior-featherweight, 122-pound title.

Inoue has some advantages over Crawford. The biggest: Timing. Inoue has the year’s last word. But there’s more: Tapales is also his second fight in 2023. He beat Stephen Fulton, also in Tokyo, taking both of Fulton’s 122-pound belts in his first junior-featherweight championship.

Without that second fight, the guess here is that Crawford probably wins Fighter of the Year, although Devin Haney also has a solid argument with an impressive decision over Regis Prograis earlier in December and a controversial decision over Vasiliy Lomachenko in May.

Crawford’s credentials are undercut mostly because his stunner over Spence was singular in a couple of ways. Yes, it was brilliant. But it was also Crawford’s only fight in 2023.

A rematch, mandated in Spence’s contract, might have happened in December, if not for Showtime’s exit – announced in October — from ringside after a 37-year run of telecasts. There were also questions, still unanswered, about Spence’s readiness.

Maybe, Spence was weakened in the fight to make weight, 147 pounds. Maybe, he’s shot. Then again, maybe Crawford is just that good. For now, the only undisputed evidence is Crawford’s dominance.

Conclusion: More dominance from Inoue would be a decisive counter to Crawford’s claim and the only sure way to make some Japanese history.

NOTES

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez-Sunny Edwards afterthoughts:

·                Rodriguez punishing beatdown of Edwards last Saturday in Glendale AZ put his name into the speculative hat of possibilities for a shot at Inoue if – as expected – he beats Tapales. First, Rodriguez wants a shot at reigning Super-Fly Juan Francisco Estrada. A year ago, Estrada said after a decision over Ramon Gonzales in Glendale that he wanted to fight Inoue

·                Edwards lost, but he won a lot of recognition with his gutsy performance. Mostly unknown in AZ before opening bell, he developed a hate-love relationship with the crowd. Pre-opening bell, it hated him for trash-talk that included unfounded charges that Rodriguez was a drug cheat. After losing, the crowd loved him for his blood-and-guts and post-fight accountability.

·                In the face of Edwards’ pointed accusations, Rodriguez kept his poise – and his tongue – before and after he badly bloodied Edwards in a ninth-round stoppage. Still, it was hard not to think that there was some vengeance at the end of his punches, especially the left hand that finished Edwards. It landed with an emphasis that words could never express.

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN: Inoue vs. Tapales will be presented live on Tuesday, December 26, at a special early morning start time, 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT, exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+. This event takes place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

In the main event, WBC/WBO world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue and WBA/IBF king Marlon Tapales collide in a showdown for the undisputed junior featherweight championship. Inoue is attempting to become only the second man — following Terence Crawford — to become a two-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

Inoue(25-0, 22 KOs) is a staggering 20-0 with 18 knockouts in world title fights, a run that began in 2014 with his knockout victory over Adrian Hernandez for the WBC light flyweight world title. He went on to win the WBO junior bantamweight world championship before capturing the undisputed bantamweight world title last December. Inoue made his junior featherweight debut in July, dominating two-belt champion Stephen Fulton en route to an eighth-round TKO.

Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs), a Filipino southpaw, is a 15-year pro who won the WBO bantamweight world title in 2016 before moving up four pounds to junior featherweight. He is 4-0 since a TKO loss to Ryosuke Iwasa in December 2019. Tapales returns following his biggest win to date, April’s upset split decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev for the WBA and IBF world titles.

In other streaming action on ESPN+:

Seiya Tsutsumi (9-0-2, 7 KOs) vs. Kazuki Anaguchi (6-0, 2 KOs), 10 Rounds, Japanese Bantamweight Title

Andy Hiraoka (22-0, 17 KOs) vs. Sebastian Diaz Maldonado (18-6-1, 13 KOs), 8 Rounds, Junior Welterweight

Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs) vs. Mario Diaz Maldonado (21-6, 9 KOs), 8 Rounds, Junior Featherweight

ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles

• Top Rank: Real Time– All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night. 
• Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars. 
• State of Boxing– Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+. 
• Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights. 

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram X (Twitter) TikTok

Inoue vs. Tapales (All Times ET)

TOKYO (Oct. 24, 2023) – Japan’s pound-for-pound king is gearing up to extend his undisputed legacy to a second weight class.
 
WBC/WBO world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue and WBA/IBF king Marlon Tapales will collide in an undisputed junior featherweight showdown on Tuesday, December 26 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Inoue, already a four-division world champion, seeks to become the second fighter to earn four-belt undisputed status in a second division.
 
Inoue-Tapales and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in a special early-morning presentation.
 
“The sensational Naoya Inoue astounds with every performance. We are witnessing an all-time great fighter in the prime of his career,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “He has a very difficult task at hand on December 26 against a tough, powerful Filipino champion in Marlon Tapales, but I am confident ‘The Monster’ will pass this test with flying colors.”
 
Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) is 20-0 with 18 knockouts in world title fights since defeating Adrian Hernandez in 2014 for the WBC light flyweight crown. He then moved up two divisions, knocked out then-WBO junior bantamweight world champion Omar Narvaez, and defended the title on seven occasions. At bantamweight, Inoue became the division’s first undisputed champion in the four-belt era, collecting each title as he defeated Emmanuel Rodriguez, Nonito Donaire twice and Paul Butler over a three-year span. After vanquishing WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton via eighth-round TKO in July, Inoue plans to become the first undisputed four-belt champion at 122 pounds.
 
Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) is a 40-fight veteran who debuted in July 2008. He spent the earlier part of his career fighting in his native Philippines, suffering two early setbacks before a breakout performance against then-unbeaten Japanese contender Shohei Omori, whom he defeated via second-round TKO in December 2015. Tapales then captured the WBO bantamweight world title with an 11th-round TKO against Panya Uthok. After beating Omori in their 2018 rematch, he moved up to junior featherweight. He is 4-0 with 3 KOs since losing to Ryosuke Iwasa in December 2019. Tapales returns following his biggest win to date, April’s upset split decision against Murodjon Akhmadaliev to capture the WBA and IBF titles.

 •  Stephen Fulton Jr. 121.9 lbs. vs. Naoya Inoue 121.7lbs
(Fulton’s WBO & WBC Junior Featherweight World Titles— 12 Rounds)

   •   Robeisy Ramirez 125.7 lbs vs. Satoshi Shimizu 125.7 lbs
(Ramirez’s WBO Featherweight World Title — 12 Rounds)

•    Kanamu Sakama107.5 lbs vs. Ryu Horikawa 107.8 lbs 
 (Light Flyweight — 8 Rounds)

•   Yoshiki Takei 118.8 lbs vs. Ronnie Baldonado 117.5 lbs 
 (Junior Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

TOKYO (July 22, 2023) —  Three-division world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue  (24-0, 21 KOs) will embark on his quest to conquer a fourth weight class as he challenges WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs)this Tuesday, July 25 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan

In the 12-round co-feature, Cuban sensation Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBO featherweight world title against Japanese contender Satoshi Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs).

Fulton-Inoue, Ramirez-Shimizu and undercard fights will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. starting at 4:30 a.m. ET/1:30 a.m. PT.

At Saturday’s press conference, this is what Inoue and Ramirez had to say:

Naoya Inoue

“Coming up to junior featherweight to be able to challenge Stephen Fulton for the title has given me great motivation. I get excited thinking about this fight and about how I will perform. I’ve been watching film of Fulton, and I think he is a very intelligent fighter.” 

“I haven’t been a challenger in five years, and that has heightened my motivation as well. I think I will be able to perform better than before.”

“Due to my injury, the fight had to be rescheduled for the 25th. And I feel grateful for the cooperation from all the people involved in the promotion and Team Fulton to make this happen. And because of that gratitude, I want to fight with everything I have on the 25th.”

Robeisy Ramirez

“I feel great. We’ve had a great training camp. I’m very happy to be in Japan and to get to know this country and its culture. I’m ready for everything that lies ahead.”

“I don’t know much about my opponent, but as I have said since this fight was presented to me, we all know that Japanese fighters are warriors. I hope he is ready because I am coming at 100 percent.”

“This is my first defense, and it’s always super important for any champion. This is the next step on my way to becoming the best featherweight in the world. I’m going to be me and have fun, the Robeisy that everyone knows inside the ring.”

Tuesday, July 25

ESPN+ (4:30 a.m. ET/1:30 a.m. PT)
 

Stephen Fulton vs. Naoya Inoue, 12 rounds, Fulton’s WBC/WBO Junior Featherweight World Titles 

Robeisy Ramirez vs. Satoshi Shimizu, 12 rounds, Ramirez’s WBO Featherweight World Title 

Kanamu Sakama vs. Ryu Horikawa, 8 rounds, Light Flyweight 

Yoshiki Takei vs. Ronnie Baldonado, 8 rounds, Junior Featherweight 

# # #

About ESPN+  
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

(July 21, 2023) — American fight fans will be treated to “Breakfast With The Monster” this Tuesday, July 25, as Naoya “Monster” Inoue attempts to dethrone WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Stephen Fulton at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) aims to become a four-weight world champion after attaining undisputed status as a bantamweight. Many experts regard him as the world’s pound-for-pound king, and he looks to bolster that claim with a win over Philadelphia native Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs). “Cool Boy Steph” has not fought since June 2022, when he dominated former unified world champion Danny Roman over 12 rounds.

Fulton-Inoue and undercard action will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. starting at 4:30 a.m. ET/1:30 a.m. PT.

The ESPN+ stream is also scheduled to include the following bouts:

• Cuban sensation Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs) will make the first defense of his WBO featherweight world title against Japanese contender Satoshi Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs). Ramirez snatched the vacant title in April with a one-sided decision over former junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe. Shimizu, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, has won three straight bouts since a 2019 TKO defeat to Joe Noynay.
   
• In an eight-round light flyweight attraction, unbeaten knockout artist Kanamu Sakama (7-0, 6 KOs) steps up against Ryu Horikawa (3-1-2, 1 KO), who is coming off an eight-round draw against former flyweight world champion Sho Kimura.
   
• Japanese junior featherweight phenom Yoshiki Takei (6-0, 6 KOs) looks to make it lucky number seven in an eight-rounder versus Filipino veteran Ronnie Baldonado (16-4-1, 9 KOs). 

# # #
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).  

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee approved on Monday, June 5, 2023, that Marlon Tapales, WBA super bantamweight champion, will unify his belt against the winner of Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton. Meanwhile, Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Tomoki Kameda must meet in a final eliminator to determine the division’s mandatory challenger.

TOKYO (April 26, 2023) – Robeisy “El Tren” Ramirez is ready to make the inaugural defense of his WBO featherweight world title against a fellow two-time Olympian. 

Ramirez will take on Japanese contender Satoshi “Diamond Left” Shimizu Tuesday, July 25, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. Ramirez-Shimizu will serve as the co-feature to the world title showdown between Philadelphia’s WBC/WBO junior featherweight champion Stephen Fulton and Japan’s pound-for-pound king Naoya “Monster” Inoue.

Fulton-Inoue, Ramirez-Shimizu and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.

Ramirez said, “Next stop, Japan! I am happy to announce my quick return to the ring in what will be the first defense of my WBO world championship. Fighting is what I do best, titles are meant to be defended, and there’s no stopping ‘El Tren!'”

Ramirez (12-1, 7 KOs), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, experienced a rocky start to his pro career following a split decision loss to Adan Gonzales in August 2019. However, after joining forces with Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, the 29-year-old has developed a more pro-friendly stye. He has remained undefeated since and avenged his loss to Gonzales in a 2020 rematch inside the MGM Grand Las Vegas Bubble. In 2022, Ramirez stopped Irish veteran Eric Donovan in February, starched then-unbeaten contender Abraham Nova in June, and defeated Jose Matias Romero via ninth-round TKO in October. In his last fight, the fighting pride of Cienfuegos, Cuba, soundly defeated former junior featherweight world champion Isaac Dogboe by unanimous decision to capture the WBO featherweight crown.

Shimizu (11-1, 10 KOs) is a 37-year-old southpaw making his first attempt at a world title. Before turning pro, he represented Japan at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. In his first Olympiad, Shizmu was eliminated in his opening bout. Four years later, he moved down to bantamweight and earned a bronze medal, defeating Dogboe but losing to eventual gold medalist Luke Campbell. Shimizu has only tasted defeat once as a pro, a sixth-round TKO loss to Joe Noynay in 2019. His pro career is otherwise unblemished, having knocked out 10 of 11 opponents across an almost seven-year span. 

# # #
About ESPN+
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

(March 22, 2023) – Stephen Fulton’s WBO/WBC junior featherweight world title defense against Naoya Inoue — originally scheduled for Sunday, May 7, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan — has been postponed due to a training injury suffered by Inoue.
 
Fulton-Inoue will be rescheduled for July, with a new date to be announced in due course.
 
The main event and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
 
Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) will make his third world title defense and second as a unified champion since defeating Brandon Figueroa in one of the best fights of 2021. Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs), the sport’s pound-for-pound king, is a three-division world champion who is making his junior featherweight debut after defeating Paul Butler last December to become the undisputed bantamweight world champion.

# # #

 
About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices). 

YOKOHAMA, Japan (March 6, 2023) — Naoya “Monster” Inoue conquered the bantamweight division. He’s now moving up in weight to capture the biggest fish at 122 pounds.

Philadelphia’s WBC & WBO junior featherweight world champion, Stephen Fulton, will defend his titles against Japan’s pound-for-pound king Sunday, May 7, at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. The showdown pits two of the world’s top fighters, as Inoue aims to become only the fifth Asian boxer to win world titles in four weight classes.

Fulton-Inoue and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ in a special early-morning presentation.

Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) is 19-0 with 17 knockouts in world title fights, a championship run that started in 2014 when he knocked out Adrian Hernandez for the WBC light flyweight world title. He went on to rule the junior bantamweight division with seven title defenses, including a second-round stoppage over Omar Narvaez. At bantamweight, Inoue became the division’s first undisputed champion in a half-century, stopping Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds to win the IBF strap, outlasting Nonito Donaire in the 2019 Fight of the Year to add the WBA belt, starching Donaire in the second round of their June 2022 rematch to snatch the WBC title, and stopping then-WBO champion Paul Butler in the 11th round. Inoue vacated all four bantamweight titles to move up four pounds for a shot at “Cool Boy Steph.”

Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs) turned pro in 2014 and defeated five undefeated prospects in his first 12 bouts. In January 2021, he defeated Angelo Leo to capture the WBO junior featherweight world title. Ten months later, he added the WBC belt to his collection with a majority decision over then-unbeaten Brandon Figueroa in one of the year’s most action-packed championship showdowns. Fulton defended both titles last June with a one-sided unanimous decision over former unified world champion Daniel Roman. Fulton will enter the Inoue bout, his first away from American soil, coming off an 11-month layoff. The 28-year-old Fulton, however, is the naturally bigger man, holding advantages in height and reach.

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About ESPN+ 
ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

LAS VEGAS, NV (January 13, 2023) – WBO #1 Jr. Featherweight contender

 Ra’eese “The Beast” Aleem (20-0, 12 KOs), the most avoided man in boxing, wants to welcome the undisputed bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue (24-0, 12 KOs), better known by his nickname “The Monster” to the 122 lbs. division.

“I would love to be the first man to hand Naoya Inoue his first loss,” said Aleem. “I believe Inoue is a true champion, one who is willing to take on all comers, unlike some of the champions in my division currently. He is regarded as one of the best fighters of his era, and I truly see myself as the man to dethrone him.”

Aleem fought only once in 2022, defeating Mike Plania (27-2, 14 KOs) on the FS1 prelim of Andy Ruiz vs Luis Ortiz. His lack of activity was not entirely his fault, as the division as a whole was at a standstill with both unified champions only fighting once, as well.

“We want this fight as soon as possible against ‘The Monster’,” said Greg Hannley, 

Aleem’s manager and CEO of Prince Ranch Boxing. “All good things have to come to an end, and Aleem is ready to become a legend, and to do that he must beat one. We’re ready to talk. This is a very makeable fight. Let’s give the fans the fight they want to see.”

For Aleem 2022 was a bit frustrating as despite being one of the best fighters in the division, he couldn’t land the big fight that he deserves.

“It is frustrating as time isn’t on my side, and I am looking to get the most out of my career – and these fighters have been avoiding me leading to severe droughts in my ability to display my skills in the ring,” concluded Aleem. “I am the only fighter who is calling out Inoue. Everyone else is scared. What is scarier, ‘A monster’ or ‘A beast’? Let’s put both of our undefeated records on the line and see!”

LONDON, OCTOBER 13 – Paul Butler goes in search of boxing immortality in December when he faces Naoya Inoue for the undisputed world bantamweight title. 

The WBO champion tackles Japanese hero Inoue, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, on Tuesday, December 13 on a historic night for the sport, promoted by Ohashi Promotion and Teiken Promotions in association with Probellum. 

Inoue holds the IBF, WBA and WBC belts and wants to clean up the division before moving up in weight – but two-time world champion Butler holds the missing piece of the puzzle. 

And the fighter from Ellesmere Port, in the UK, heads to the Land of the Rising Sun, fully intent on becoming boxing’s first undisputed bantamweight champion in half a century and scoring one of the biggest away wins by a British fighter ever. 

Paul Butler said: “I’ve been boxing for over 20 years and all the successes and set-backs have led me here, to the biggest fight of my career, with the biggest prize in the sport on offer. 

“I am under no illusions as to the size of the task that faces me, but I have been going to bed dreaming of becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world. 

“Inoue is a phenomenal fighter but not one person should be underestimating me, my skills, or my resolve.  I am going to Japan to write my name into the history of our sport.” 

Key fighter imagery and event artwork can be found HERE 
(Please credit Probellum if used) 

Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum, said: “It does not get any bigger than this, but Paul Butler is ready to carve out history, cause a seismic upset and return home as the undisputed world bantamweight champion. 

“We all appreciate how good Naoya Inoue is, we have seen it repeatedly, but the people who really know Paul, know what he is made of and the greater the challenge, the greater his performance will be.” 

To keep up to date with the latest news on Butler vs Inoue sign up to our newsletter?or follow Probellum on?Instagram,?Twitter?and?Facebook.???? 

You can also follow our official news, results, and information account, Probellum News, on Twitter.?

By Norm Frauenheim-

Jesse Rodriguez storms into the headlines and pound-for-pound talk in about the time it takes to say his nickname.

Bam, he’s there.

His sudden emergence in the wake of a magnificent performance in a stoppage Saturday of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai is stunning, yet not unprecedented.

He’s a little guy, near the bottom of a scale where weights and wages are light. Not much changes. But Rodriguez, still only 22, is poised to do exactly that. His thorough breakdown of an accomplished, yet aging Sor Srisaket, 35, in hometown San Antonio was a bold statement.

For those who didn’t know much about him, it was a crash-through-the door introduction. Bam, he’s impossible to ignore. For those anxious to know more, it was reason to look again at a career that promises so much more. Bam, his dimensions have a potential dynamic that defies boxing’s traditional measure.

On the historical scale, Rodriguez looks to be the best American at a lighter weight since Michael Carbajal. It was fitting five months ago that Rodriguez won his first significant title at the newly-named Footprint Center, an NBA arena within a couple of miles of roadwork from Carbajal’s home in downtown Phoenix.

Rodriguez beat Carlos Cuadras, skilled yet also aging (33), scoring a unanimous decision for a belt at 115 pounds. Depending on the acronym, it’s a division called super-bantamweight or super-flyweight. Super-fly works best here. Lord of the Flies, too.

Carbajal stayed at light-flyweight (108) throughout his Hall of Fame career which ended in 1999.  Why?  Follow the money. Nothing about that old axiom has changed. Rodriguez, also a former light-flyweight, moved up in search of bigger names and bigger paydays. Carbajal never had to. In the. He was the key the flyweight vault.

Over the last two-plus decades, however, a search for another great American flyweight – anther Carbajal – has been hit and miss. Mostly miss.

Those around Rodriguez – trainer Robert Garcia and promoter Eddie Hearn – have been cautious. They aren’t ready to proclaim him as the next in any line of succession. There’s talk about him going down in weight — to 112 — for another title, a resume piece that could augment marketability and his leverage at the bargaining table. Given his relative youth, that’s wise.

If you follow the money, however, it’s impossible to not arrive at Naoya Inoue, a former junior-flyweight champion who retained the bantamweight (118) title with a rematch stoppage of 39-year-old Nonito Donaire a Filipino and another former flyweight champ.

Junior-lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson was the first to mention Inoue on social media last week, saying that Rodriguez would beat the Japanese star in two years. The reaction was swift.

Be careful, don’t let Rodriguez get ahead of himself, skeptics said. Fight Roman Gonzalez first.

Gonzalez is the most decorated flyweight ever. The Nicaraguan became the lightest fighter ever to be No. 1 in respected pound-for-pound ratings. The Ring and ESPN put him on top after the then flyweight champion stopped Brian Viloria in October 2015. But Gonzalez’ reign was brief. He moved up in weight, a jump to super-fly that ended in a knockout loss knocked out by Srisaket in 2017.

Before the KO — Gonzalez’ first loss, there was talk of a fight with the emerging Inoue. First, however, negotiations stalled when Gonzalez said he wanted more money. Then, any chance at the proposed bout vanished with Gonzalez’ KO loss.

Now, Inoue is in just about the same position Gonzalez was five, six years ago. He’s No. 1 in The Ring’s current pound-for-pound rating. He’s No. 2 in ESPN’s edition. Meanwhile, Gonzalez is older (35) and vulnerable to being stopped all over again. Would Gonzalez risk fighting Rodriguez, even if he could?

Meanwhile, Inoue’s stardom is peaking. He’s seeking to enhance his international celebrity and affirm his pound-for-pound supremacy.

“I would like to thank all the media for paying attention, and I would like to have more exposure from the media in the future,’’ he said this week in a video address to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Japan.

He went on to say: “I’d like to have the fights that the No. 1-ranked boxer deserves.’’

That, he said, means unifying the bantamweight title. He also suggested it could mean another jump up the scale, this time to 122 pounds, junior-featherweight. But another jump in weight poses the risk that undid Gonzalez.

Instead, there looks to be a better opportunity down scale at Super Fly against Rodriguez. It might be the best way to move up the pay scale. Here’s why:

Inoue was guaranteed a reported $350,000 for his rematch with Donaire. His percentage of pay-per-view receipts were expected to boost his pay check to $500,000.

There were no reports on how much Rodriguez collected for his eight-round stunner of Sor Srisaket. Best guess, it was several numbers less than Inoue’s payday for the Donaire rematch.

That brings us back to Carbajal. Historically, he represents the financial record for reported purses in weight classes between bantam and minimum weight (118 to 105). He got a reported $1 million for his rematch loss to rival and business partner Humberto Gonzalez in a 1994 rematch in Los Angeles. Gonzalez got a reported $1-million for a third fight in Mexico City, also in 1994.

Roman Gonzalez’ biggest reported purse was $700,000 for a split-decision loss to Juan Francisco Estrada in 2021. Donaire, who had a $125,000 guarantee for the Inoue rematch, collected seven-figures twice in his long career. But both were at junior-featherweight (122 pounds). He got a reported $1.32 million for a loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013 in New York. In 2012, he got a reported $1 million for a stoppage of Jorge Arce.

Another move up in weight increases the risks that have already been there for Inoue. He suffered a fractured eye-socket in his 2019 Fight-of-the-Year decision over Donaire in their first meeting. Call it a warning. There’s also the clock. Inoue is 29. He’s in his prime. His chances will probably never be any better than they are right now against the emerging Rodriguez, still five-to-six years from his prime.

Do it now. Bam, it just makes too much sense.

Naoya Inoue made his claim to be considered the pound for pound best fighter in the world as he stopped Nonito Donaire to add the WBC Bantamweight title to his WBA/IBF crowns in Saitama, Japan.

At the end of round one, Inoue dropped Donaire with a quick counter right to the head. Donaire decided the fight Inoue, but that turned out to be a mistakes as Inoue rocked Donaire several times and buckled him badly with a left hook. Inoue jumped on Donaire and landed a big left hook that sent Donaire down again. When he got to his feet, he has a cut over his right eye and referee Michael Griffin deemed that Donaire was in no shape to continue at 1:24.

Inoue of Japan is now 23-0 with 20 knockouts. Donaire of the Philippines is now 42-7.

The bout was a rematch of a classic 2019 Fight of the Year, where Inoue won a decision.

Takuma Inoue Decisions Furuhashi

Takuma Inoue won an entertaining 12-round unanimous decision over Gakuya Furuhashi in a super bantamweight fight.

Inoue was dominant with crisp uppercuts with both hands against the hard charging Furuhashi. Furuhashi’s left eyelid was bleeding un the final round.

Inoue of Japan is now 16-1. Furuhashi is 28-9-2

Andy Hiraoka stopped Shun Akiawa in round six of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round one, Hiraoka dropped Akaiwa with a left uppercut.

In round six, Hiraoka turned up the heat and landed a hard barrage of punches that hurt Akaiwa, and the bout was stopped at 1:24.

Hiraoka is now 20-0 with 15 knockouts. Akaiwa is now 7-4-1.

Follow all the action as Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire battle for the WBA/WBC/IBF Bantamweight titles in a rematch of the 2019 Fight of the Year. The action Kicks off at 5:30 AM ET / 2:30 AM PT/6:30 PM in Japan

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Round 1: Left hook from Inoue..Counter left hook…Right…Jab…Left hook from Donaire..Left from Inoue…COUNTER RIGHT AND DOWN GOES DONAIRE..

ROUND 2 Left Hook from Donaire…hard left from Inoue…Big left hook…Body shot…Left buckles Donaire badly…BIG LEFT HOOK AND DOWN GOES DONAIRE AND THE FIGHT IS OVER

Round 1 Inoue lands a jab…Furuhashi lands a right and left to the body..Left hook from Inoue…1-2..Right uppercut from Furuhashi..Left from Inoue
Round 2 Left hook from Inoue..Nice body work from Furuhashi…Right from Inoue…Triple uppercut
Round 3 Right uppercut from Inoue..Uppercut from Furuhashi..2 Punch combination from Inoue…Overhand right from Furuhashi..Nice right uppercut from Inoue…Double Uppercut..another double uppercut…big exchange…
Round 4 Nice uppercut from Inoue…Nice sweeping left hook…Nice right uppercut…Long right from Furuhashi..Landing power shots…
Round 5 Furuhashi landing body shots…Uppercuts from Inoue…Left hook to body…Right to body from Furuhashi..Jab from Inoue…Uppercut..Short right and left hook…Uppercut…
Round 6 2 Good body shots from Inoue…Double uppercut…
Round 7 Double left hook from Inoue…right and left uppercut…
Round 8 Inoue lands a left hook to the body…Exchanging of liver shots..Uppercut from Inoue…Nice body shot from Furuhashi…
Round 9 Nice combination from Inoue…Good right to the body by Furuhashi…
Round 10 Nice right cross and left uppercut from Inoue…Good right from Furuhashi…Nice right uppercut..Overhand right…Nice counter left from Inoue…Nice left hook from Furuhashi…Left from Inoue..Nice Jab from Furuhashi..
Round 11 Nice double uppercut from Inoue…Nice body shot from Furuhashi..Short left hook and right from Inoue..Right uppercut…Body work from Furuhashi…Right uppercut…
Round 12 Nice Body shot from Inoue..Blood from right eyelid of Furuhashi..Nice double uppercut from Inoue..Body shot from Furuhashi.

Round 1 Left uppercut from Hiraoka…Straight left..LEFT UPPERCUT AND DOWN AKAIWA..Counter left and right from Akaiwa…
Round 2 Right hand from Akaiwa…left to body..Body shot and uppercut from Hiraoka..Nice body work
Round 3 Good right to body from Hiraoka..
Round 4 Nice right from Akaiwa…
Round 5 
Round 6 Good right uppercut from Hiraoka..Hard overhand right…BARRAGE OF PUNCHES…FIGHT STOPPED