「これで最後だ」とキャッチコピーがつけられたリマッチ。中央に王者井上と挑戦者那須川　photo/Naoki Fukuda

The two fighters previously clashed for the same vacant title in November last year, with Inoue securing a clear 12-round unanimous decision. Having reclaimed his world title, Inoue has appeared to reach new heights, maintaining exceptional momentum, which included a decisive victory over Kazuto Ioka (Shisei) in May this year after scoring two knockdowns.

Meanwhile, Nasukawa bounced back from his first professional loss against Inoue by stopping Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico) via TKO in April this year. That victory over Estrada earned him the right to challenge for the title once again. Having declared his commitment to change before defeating Estrada, Nasukawa now enters a rematch with revenge on the line.

The press conference was held publicly at an outdoor space in Kabukicho. Both fighters arrived in a limousine and responded to media questions. Displaying the composure of a champion, Inoue stated, “Nasukawa properly cleared his title eliminator, which is why I accepted this match.” He added, “I will defeat him again. I just need to execute my boxing without opening up any vulnerabilities, just as I did in the first fight, and get the stoppage.” Throughout the conference, Inoue repeatedly used the phrase “defeat him again.”

Nasukawa displayed a rare moment of visible anger. His dissatisfaction with the low-key atmosphere of the announcement press conference, despite a large crowd of fans being gathered, reflected his professional demeanor. Addressing the fans, Nasukawa remarked, “What I surrendered in that defeat was massive. Unsettled debts are unacceptable. I intend to take it all back with heavy interest.” Regarding the stakes of the rematch, he stated, “If I lose here, there is no future for me,” framing the contest as a decisive, do-or-die challenge.

The bout will be broadcast exclusively live on Prime Video.

左から寺地、増田、岩田の３王者（帝拳ジムで）

Teraji Eyes Unification Bouts After Securing Third-Division Title

Teraji, who delivered a decisive victory after dropping Israel Gonzalez (Mexico) twice during the bout, shared his immediate impressions: “I feel both thrilled to have achieved a world title in a third weight division and deeply relieved.” Despite his extensive experience as a long-reigning world champion, the victory carried significant weight, serving as both a comeback contest after a one-year absence and a major title challenge across three divisions. Trainer Kenta Kato reflected on the journey, stating, “There were difficult moments, such as the fight cancellation late last year, but he remained focused without losing his way.”

Looking ahead, Teraji has set his sights on unification contests. Capturing two belts in a third weight class would mark a historic first for a Japanese boxer. With the super-flyweight division stacked with talent, potential matchups offer compelling prospects for international fight fans.

Rapidly Evolving Iwata Targets Elite Champions

Iwata, who successfully repelled the challenge of Erik Badillo (Mexico), commented: “If regaining the world title was part one, I viewed this first defense as part two. I entered the ring with an exceptionally high level of focus.” Rather than relying solely on individual power shots, Iwata executed a strategic, footwork-oriented approach featuring sharp in-and-out movement—building seamlessly upon the performance that earned him the title in his previous contest. Despite suffering the first knockdown of his professional career, he fulfilled his pre-fight declaration, overcoming mid-fight adversity to secure a late-round TKO victory in a highly competitive bout. “Having defeated an undefeated number-one mandatory challenger, I want to face even stronger champions next,” Iwata stated, displaying elevated ambition after rectifying his previous setback during his WBO reign, where he failed to register a initial defense.

The Teiken corner offered high praise for the champion’s execution. “No matter how much you practice, it is meaningless unless executed in the ring,” noted representative Tsuyoshi Hamada, while trainer Sendai Tanaka added, “He transferred everything we worked on in training directly into the fight.” Iwata demonstrated his ongoing commitment, stating, “I want to resume training immediately.”

Masuda Pledges Continued Progress, Targets Seiya Tsutsumi

Masuda, who captured the WBA bantamweight regular title via a hard-fought split decision over Daigo Higa following twelve rounds of action, expressed relief: “I am relieved to have secured the victory safely.” Maintaining a resolute demeanor, he added, “I intend to keep working diligently to display boxing worthy of this belt.”

After establishing an early lead, Masuda faced a strong mid-fight resurgence from Higa before mounting a final offensive in the closing rounds to seal the verdict. Facing an opponent who had meticulously prepared for his straight left hand, Masuda’s patience and tactical composure proved decisive—a factor that carried added value given the overwhelming crowd support for Higa noted by representative Tsuyoshi Hamada.

Humble despite the victory due to his inability to secure his signature knockout finish, Masuda remarked that he was “not yet worthy of the belt.” However, when questioned regarding a potential matchup with champion-in-recess Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi Houseki), Masuda offered a direct response: “I want to settle in the ring who the true champion is.”

比嘉との激闘を制した増田㊧

Right from the start, southpaw Masuda applied pressure, while Higa circled to the right to meet his attacks. As Higa backed up and lunged forward with his signature timing to throw a right, Masuda landed a left counter as Higa closed in during the third round.
Masuda applied pressure by landing a hard left straight over Higa’s guard and countered Higa’s attempts to close the distance with clinches. However, late in the fourth round, Higa cornered Masuda with a flurry following a right cross.
In the sixth round, Higa suffered a cut above his left eye from a head clash and spent the remainder of the fight preoccupied with the bleeding.
When creating distance, Masuda used his right jab and footwork to land left straights. Higa burst in with a sudden right and landed a combination of left and right hooks. When the fight went close-range, Masuda countered with short left and right uppercuts and a right hook while mixing in clinches; in response, Higa unleashed a barrage of left uppercuts and left hooks at varying heights.
Masuda thwarted Higa’s attempts to close in and unleash combinations with rhythm jabs and left straights. Although Higa had a surprisingly high jab accuracy from a distance, he spent more and more time blocking Masuda’s left straights with his arms held high and tight, preventing him from closing the distance as he’d hoped. Conversely, while Masuda struggled at times with Higa’s high guard, he not only landed numerous punches to score points but also showed the composure to land a left as Higa closed in.
In the 11th round, the two exchanged counter body blows, but Masuda landed a clean left straight followed by a right uppercut. In the final 12th round, both fighters showed signs of fatigue, with Masuda landing a right uppercut followed by a left straight, and Higa landing a right overhand followed by a left body uppercut. As they fought with their last ounce of strength, the final bell rang.
“I’m happy to have achieved my goal, but I’ve come to realize once again just how tough boxing is. (Toward the end), I just wanted to step forward and throw punches. I’m still not worthy of this belt. I’ll train much, much harder to become a truly strong champion.” Masuda, who had somehow cut the skin above both eyes, spoke of his goals without breaking his poker face.
The WBA features Super Champion Jesse Rodriguez (USA) and Retired Champion Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi Jewelry), while Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) reigns as WBC champion. Additionally, his stablemate Tenshin Nasukawa holds the right to challenge Inoue. This is Masuda’s declaration that he, too, will boldly navigate these turbulent waters of fierce competition.
Masuda (28) has a record of 11 wins (9 KOs) and 1 loss. Higa (30), whose fourth attempt at becoming a two-division champion was unsuccessful, has a record of 21 wins (19 KOs), 4 losses, and 3 draws.

On-Demand Streaming Period: July 20, 11:51 p.m. – September 7, 11:59 p.m.

最終回にダウンを奪った寺地

Teraji, establishing his rhythm by bouncing on his left knee while flicking out lead left jabs, showcased a resurgence of his former style centered on distance management. Although Gonzalez’s wide, looping right cross from range posed an initial threat, the rhythmically mobile Teraji calculated the timing within the opening round.

In the second round, Teraji scored a knockdown with a sharp right counter, forcing Gonzalez to a knee. Building on this in the third, he maintained high defensive awareness while applying forward pressure, mixing powerful right hands to both the head and body.

Gonzalez shifted his tactical approach in the fifth, stepping forward to initiate high-volume combinations and landing his right hand with increased frequency. However, Teraji prevented any momentum shift by countering with solid right hooks to the body, meeting the challenger with jabs and one-two combinations, and piercing the guard with timed right hands upstairs and downstairs.

Although Gonzalez landed occasional right hands, Teraji frequently utilized movement and lateral pivots to break the distance, preventing Gonzalez from sustaining his multi-punch flurries. Driven by an intent to attack, Gonzalez continually found himself forced onto the back foot under the pressure of Teraji’s right hand and upper-tier distance manipulation.

As the fight entered the final stretch and descended into toe-to-toe exchanges, Teraji’s footwork and integrated offense-defense clearly outmatched Gonzalez, whose upper body lunged forward without his feet following. In the 12th and final round, Teraji scored a second knockdown with a straight right. Though Gonzalez rose and launched a last-ditch assault with left and right hooks, Teraji maintained complete focus through the final bell.

“The one-two following the hook that we practiced landed cleanly, which felt great. I am extremely happy to hold a belt again after a year,” Teraji stated. “I focused on returning to my former style, jab-centric with sharp in-and-out movement. No fighter in Japan has unified belts across three weight divisions, so that is the milestone I want to achieve. After losing, I truly hit rock bottom, but the view from back up here is the absolute best. So let’s all keep pushing forward together.” Setting new objectives, Teraji addressed the crowd on the value of embracing challenges, delivering a mental and physical performance that suggested his peak years remain well ahead of him.

Teraji (34) moves to 26-2 (16 KOs). Gonzalez (29), whose fifth world title bid ended in defeat, falls to 32-6-2 (12 KOs).

見逃し配信期間 7月20日 23:51〜9月7日 23:59

バディージョに右を打ち込む岩田㊨

Moving back and forth and side to side while drawing Budillo in, Iwata landed a right hand as the southpaw challenger finished his left punch. He also landed a right straight to the body as Budillo closed in, establishing his rhythm.
However, as the third round began, the momentum shifted when Budillo switched to an offensive strategy heavy on right hooks. In the fourth round, Iwata was knocked down by a counter left from Badillo, but in the open scoring after the round, all three judges scored it 38–37 in Iwata’s favor.
In the fifth round, as Badillo gradually closed the distance and landed short uppercuts with both hands, Iwata remained calm, used his footwork, and returned powerful right hands to create a “breakthrough.” With the right body straight—which he had been landing at key moments since the early rounds—Iwata inflicted damage on Budillo, forcing him to retreat and allowing Iwata to take the offensive.
After somehow weathering Budillo’s right short uppercut in the 8th round, Iwata responded with a right body uppercut that clearly damaged his opponent.
At the end of the 8th round, the scores were 78–73, 78–73, and 77–74, all in Iwata’s favor. Applying steady pressure, Iwata landed a clean combination of a right overhand and a right body uppercut. In the 10th round, he used a right short straight as a lead punch and landed a flurry of consecutive blows. He also demonstrated his skill in switching from light to heavy punches, gradually cornering Budillo.
Then came the 11th round. After varying the pace of his fast right lead, he landed a thunderous right overhand. Budillo was clearly reeling; though he managed to avoid going down, Iwata landed another right that sent him reeling backward, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
“It was the first time in my life I’d been knocked down, but I wasn’t hurt, so I reset my mindset. I made sure to land punches to the head and then follow up with body shots. Some parts didn’t go according to plan, so I want to get back to training as soon as possible,” said Iwata. By stopping the tricky southpaw mandatory challenger as promised, he must have gained tremendous confidence.
Iwata (30) now stands at 17 wins (14 KOs) and 2 losses. Budillo (30), who showed tenacity but suffered his first loss, is now at 19 wins (8 KOs) and 1 loss.

On-Demand Viewing Period: July 20, 11:51 p.m. – September 7, 11:59 p.m.

ゴメスをストップして再起を果たした秋次

Akitsugi, a southpaw who consistently used subtle feints to outmaneuver his opponent, would drive his left straight from the right up and down; in response, Gomez would aim a full-force right at the end of Akitsugi’s left punch.
Akitsugi, who suffered a cut above his left eye from a head clash in the first round, unleashed a variety of combinations, starting with a left uppercut followed by a right body hook. However, perhaps because he was too eager to press forward, his signature smooth footwork and movement were absent, and he often remained standing directly in front of his opponent. As a result, he allowed Gomez to land persistent flurries, preventing him from establishing a solid rhythm. In the fifth round, he suffered a cut above his right eye as well, prompting a doctor’s check.
However, perhaps eager to end the fight quickly, Akitsugi repeatedly landed powerful left straights with some force, causing Gomez’s head to snap back, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
“I suffered my first loss (in April), changed coaches afterward, and wasn’t able to do that great of a sparring session during my preparation period, so I was anxious,” revealed Akitsugi, looking relieved. “I’m incredibly happy. I thought the stoppage might have been a little early, but this is the most satisfying victory I’ve ever had.” Looking ahead, he said, “I’ll fight anytime, but I’d be happy to do it in Japan,” indicating his willingness to continue stepping into the ring in Japan, where his profile is rising. He also remarked, “I want to fight Japanese fighters to gauge my own level.”
Akitsugi (28) now has a record of 15 wins (5 KOs) and 1 loss. Gomez (26), who suffered a 4th-round TKO loss to former WBO bantamweight champion Jason Maloney (Australia) in his previous bout last December, now stands at 14 wins (10 KOs) and 4 losses. This marks his third consecutive loss.

On-Demand Streaming Period: July 20, 11:51 p.m. – September 7, 11:59 p.m.

トリプル戦に出場する選手。左から寺地、ゴンサレス、増田、比嘉、岩田、バディージョ

In the main event, a clash for the vacant WBA bantamweight title, number 1-ranked Riku Masuda (Teiken) faces number 2-ranked Daigo Higa (Shisei). Tsuyoshi Hamada, representative of Teiken Gym, offered his assessment of the matchup: “Masuda possesses the superior single-punch power, while Higa excels in high-volume combinations. On the night, the fighter who can execute beyond their baseline will likely emerge victorious.” In response, Higa’s trainer, Joji Nogi, referenced the legendary first encounter between Hamada and Rene Arredondo, stating, “I want to replicate the exact manner in which his Okinawa senior, Tsuyoshi Hamada, captured the world title.” In that WBC junior-welterweight title bout exactly 40 years ago, Hamada claimed the championship via a devastating first-round knockout. While that historic contest concluded swiftly, Trainer Nogi emphasized that his primary focus was the level of “determination” required for this upcoming bout. The exchange further heightened anticipation for the collision between Masuda and Higa, two hard-hitters with contrasting offensive styles.

Challenging for a world title in a third weight class in the vacant WBO super-flyweight championship bout, Kenshiro Teraji (BMB) expressed confidence regarding his move up in weight, noting, “My sharpness has increased, and my confidence has grown along with it.” His opponent, Israel Gonzalez (Mexico), wore sunglasses throughout the proceedings, masking his expressions. However, the Mexican challenger remained composed, stating, “I have no specific impressions to offer regarding Teraji, but I will execute exactly what I need to do.”

Defending his WBC light-flyweight world title for the first time, champion Shokichi Iwata (Teiken) received high praise from his trainer, Sendai Tanaka, who testified to the champion’s progression: “He has maintained excellent condition since capturing the world title. Depending on how the opponent approaches the fight, I believe he will deliver a performance that will surprise everyone.” The challenger, Erik Badillo (Mexico), reiterated the significance of the opportunity, describing it as “a life-defining chance,” and boasted of the supreme conditioning developed during his high-altitude training camp in Mexico, claiming his stamina was at a level where it felt as though he possessed “four lungs.”

フランシスコを攻める尾崎㊨

In his first domestic bout since December 2024, Ozaki put on a dazzling boxing display. Fighting from a southpaw stance, he dazzled Francisco with a series of fluid footwork and quick turns to the left and right, then launched a rapid-fire barrage centered on left counters.
In the fourth round, Ozaki created an opening with that left counter, driving Francisco against the ropes and unleashing a flurry of punches. He dodged Francisco’s counterattacks—which were aimed at capitalizing on the opening—with steps and weaving, while landing a right hook in response to a left and a left body counter, inflicting damage on Francisco. It was impressive how he launched powerful attacks while never becoming sloppy, skillfully interweaving evasive movements.
There was a moment when Francisco landed a right body counter as Ozaki finished a left-handed combination, but that may have been the only blow he took. The way Ozaki cornered his opponent with a methodical attack—never getting carried away by his speed and skillfully utilizing feints and variations in pace—was a performance befitting a world-ranked fighter (WBC No. 8, IBF No. 8, WBO No. 12).
In the sixth round, Ozaki cornered Francisco with a flurry of punches that varied in intensity, and after the round ended, Francisco’s corner signaled their intention to forfeit, bringing the match to a close.
“I still have plenty of areas to work on, but I’m relieved to have won. The biggest takeaway was what I learned during the fight. My legs are my strength, and I’m good at using my footwork to keep my opponent at a distance, but I learned a lot about dodging my opponent’s attacks and fighting up close. There are gaps I need to fill to compete on the world stage, so I want to dedicate myself to boxing every single day.” His humility in the face of a perfect victory drew loud applause from the crowd.
Ozaki (23) now has a record of 10 wins (8 KOs) and 1 draw. Francisco (29) has a record of 12 wins (4 KOs) and 4 losses.

再びサウジのリングに上がる堤麗斗

Since his professional debut in May last year, Reito Tsutsumi has fought in New York, Las Vegas, and Riyadh. His first bout of this year will once again take place in Saudi Arabia, following his previous appearance where he secured a fourth-round TKO victory over Leobardo Quintana. Tsutsumi is scheduled to depart this week, accompanied by his older brother Hayato, who will provide corner support fresh from his own second-round TKO victory in the WBA super-featherweight eliminator on 14 July.

The event will be headlined by a 12-round heavyweight contest between former unified champion Anthony Joshua (UK) and Christian Prenga (Albania). The undercard will also feature two world title bouts: Hamzah Sheeraz (UK) will defend his WBO middleweight title against Simon Zachenhuber (Germany) [Note: Verification required for weight class discrepancy], while Josh Kelly (UK) faces Caoimhin Agyarko (Ireland) for the IBF super-welterweight title.

２回、バティスタをダウンさせた堤

Tsutsumi established a sharp lead left jab and actively integrated his right hand by the midway point of the opening round. While he appeared to be in control of the action, a right overhand from Batista caught him just before the bell, momentarily freezing the Japanese contender. Batista followed up with a flurry, and Tsutsumi appeared to carry some damage back to his corner.

As anticipated, Batista came forward aggressively at the start of the second round. Tsutsumi blocked the initial onslaught and countered with a sharp left hook to score the first knockdown. Although Batista beat the count, Tsutsumi immediately pressed his advantage to floor the Dominican a second time. Despite swelling around his right eye, Tsutsumi relentlessly pursued the finish. A visibly shaken Batista attempted to resist on unsteady legs but was overwhelmed by the pressure, prompting referee Nakamura to halt the contest as another left hook sent the visitor reeling.

エキサイティングな試合だった

Although it was a spectacular victory, Tsutsumi spoke critically of his performance: “I got caught in the first round when I let my guard down. I had not prepared to finish the fight in this manner, so in that sense, I feel a bit unsatisfied. However, this is not a sport where you can afford to drag a fight out unnecessarily. I was determined to take the finish when the opportunity presented itself.” He then made his world title ambitions clear, stating, “I am training with the expectation of challenging the WBA champion, Cacace, by the end of the year.”

With the win, Tsutsumi improves to 9-0 (6 KOs). Batista falls to 14-1 (10 KOs).