Naoya Inoue, known as “The Monster,” is set to defend his undisputed super bantamweight championship against South Korea’s Ye Joon Kim on Friday, January 24th, 2025. The fight, taking place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, will be contested over 12 rounds in the Super Bantamweight division, with a weight limit of 122 pounds (8.7 stone or 55.3 kg).
Fighter Profiles and Stats
- Naoya Inoue: Boasts an undefeated record of 28 wins, zero losses, and 0 draws, with 25 of those wins coming by way of knockout. Inoue has a staggering 89% knockout rate and is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
- Ye Joon Kim: Enters the ring with a record of 21 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws, with 13 wins by knockout. Once-ranked, Kim is stepping up as a substitute opponent after the initial contender, Sam Goodman, withdrew due to an injury.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: Inoue is 31 years old, one year younger than Kim.
- Height: Inoue has a slight height advantage at 5’6″, just one inch taller than Kim.
- Reach: Boasts a 3-inch reach advantage over his opponent.
- Stance: Both fighters utilize the orthodox stance.
Recent Fights
- Naoya Inoue: Last fought on September 3, 2024, defeating TJ Doheny by technical knockout in the 7th round to retain his IBF, WBC, WBO, and WBA titles. Inoue has maintained his dominance in the division with notable victories over Luis Nery, Marlon Tapales, Stephen Fulton, and Paul Butler.
- Ye Joon Kim: Last fought in May 2024, securing a stoppage win against Rakesh Lohchab. Previously lost to Rob Diezel but has since rebounded with two consecutive victories.
Matchup Insights
- Inoue’s Path to Victory: Known for his knockout power, Inoue will likely leverage his strength and speed to try to finish the fight early. His past performances indicate a high likelihood of delivering another knockout victory.
- Kim’s Path to Victory: Kim will need to withstand Inoue’s power punches and find vulnerabilities in Inoue’s defense to have a chance at upsetting the champion. His success will depend on his ability to adapt and endure the onslaught.
Naoya Inoue – 3000
Ye Joon Kim + 1400
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, January 23, 2025
