Naoya Inoue smashes Ye Joon Kim down and out in four rounds to defend undisputed super-bantamweight world title

Naoya Inoue doesn’t need to be asked twice.

With his opponent beckoning him in, Inoue stepped forward with a devastating right cross to blast Ye Joon Kim down to the canvas to defend his undisputed world championship in four rounds.

Kim had been hoping to realise an unlikely dream. The Korean had taken the opportunity against Inoue - one of, if not the best in the sport - when he stepped in to replace Sam Goodman.

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Goodman had two chances at this fight himself, but a cut in sparring that reopened ahead of this rescheduled date finally ruled him out altogether.

Kim had been on stand-by and so rather than an undercard bout he became part of the main event. But he still was facing arguably the hardest assignment in world boxing, trying to beat Naoya Inoue, and doing it at just two weeks' notice.

Inoue is a two-weight undisputed world champion, now holding all four of the major titles at super-bantamweight.

He came up to 122lbs in 2023 and has won every bout he's had at that weight inside the distance. The Japanese star blazed through Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales to unify the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF world titles.

Most recently he forced TJ Doheny to retire from their bout and he also completed an exciting championship defence against Luis Nery last year.

Nery scored a stunning knockdown against Inoue in their first round. But Inoue rose from that to blow Nery away with another huge finish.

This latest defence was another showcase of his devastating capabilities.

Story of the fight

Kim came out southpaw, moving to the centre of the ring at the opening bell. Inoue waited for him, his lead left held high to obstruct his challenger's right jab, and stayed patient, before smashing his straight right into Kim's trunk.

Kim had to back off, to keep out of range of those straight shots.

In the second round Inoue moved Kim back with a heavy right. He was starting to tag Kim. Inoue cracked Kim with a left-right combination. Kim tried to curve over his left, but it was too slow and Inoue weaved away from it.

While a cross did reach Inoue, the champion timed his right to catch Kim cleanly.

Kim tapped his cross into Inoue's body and he popped in a combination, willing himself to up his punch output.

But Inoue's power had soon brought up a swelling under Kim's eye and the champion punished him with firm jabs.

He lanced a cracking cross through too. A left hook then a right struck Kim's body, hits that must have knocked the wind out of him. Kim had to pedal back.

Inoue's right remained sharp in the fourth round. He directed Kim into a corner and the challenger was hard-pushed to escape.

Counters slammed into Kim and a left hook into Kim's body landed with audible power.

Kim was reduced to showing his toughness, beckoning Inoue in - but that only invited trouble. A left scraped across had Kim hurt but a lightning jab set up a huge straight right. That full-force blast, landing flush, was the finishing blow.

What's next

Inoue explained why he didn't rush the start of the fight. "Overall I think it was a good match but I didn't have enough time to study my opponent so I just took some time to see what's coming from him," he said.

Inoue's next stop will be a contest in America, likely in April with Alan David Picasso the potential opponent.

"Another great performance by our champion here," promoter Bob Arum said. "The great country of Japan will give the great Inoue to the city of Las Vegas for one fight this spring."

Inoue added: "I am so happy to see all the people around the world watching me.

"Thank you everyone for watching my fight," he continued. "I am planning to have a fight in Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia this year.

"2025 will be the year for me to go to overseas countries to have a fight, in the spring in 2025 I will be going to Las Vegas to show for you a great match."

(c) Sky Sports 2025: Naoya Inoue smashes Ye Joon Kim down and out in four rounds to defend undisputed super-bantamweight world title