On the 3rd, the day following the “THE DAY” event at the Tokyo Dome, Naoya Inoue and Takuma Inoue held a press conference at the Ohashi Gym in Yokohama to reflect on their successful title defences. The brothers expressed their satisfaction in achieving simultaneous victories on the same card, a feat they last accomplished at the same venue two years ago.
大橋ジムで開かれた一夜明け会見
Appearing in light sunglasses with unusual swelling around his left eye, Naoya Inoue arrived alongside Takuma, whose face remained largely unmarked.
“I am delighted to welcome this day together with Takuma,” Naoya stated first. Reflecting on the moments he and his formidable challenger, Junto Nakatani (M.T), exchanged smiles during their tactical struggle, he added: “We fought while feeling each other’s technique and spirit. We both enjoyed that space where offence met defence, and even when throwing punches, they wouldn’t land.”
Throughout his 32-fight career, Naoya has rarely conceded rounds. However, last night resulted in his closest scores to date (116-112, 116-112, 115-113). Addressing this, he noted with a serious expression: “I felt a two-point margin was tight. If there is a discrepancy between my own sensation and the corner’s feedback versus the official scoring, I need to review it thoroughly. I also want to understand which elements the judges were prioritising when awarding points.”
The high-level contest drew significant praise for both the victor and the defeated Nakatani, leading to immediate talk of a sequel. “If there is a public demand for it, then a second fight is possible. Of course, there are other options, so I will discuss it with Chairman (Hideyuki) Ohashi,” Naoya remarked, encouraging fans to “expect more legends to be made.”
Takuma, who secured a dominant victory by scoring two knockdowns against the legendary Kazuto Ioka (Shisei), identified his jab as the decisive factor: “Winning the battle of the jabs allowed me to establish a good rhythm.” Trainer and father Shingo Inoue, also in attendance, expressed satisfaction: “We expected at least a parity in the jab against a fighter as skilled as Ioka, but Takuma out-jabbed him. That allowed him to fully utilise his foot speed thereafter.” Having reviewed Takuma’s performance, Naoya offered praise in his own unique style: “It was perfect. His defensive work against the ropes and the way he used his shoulders on the inside was almost ‘freakish’ in its technicality,” a comment that drew laughter from the assembled media.
