Naoya Inoue
(Ohashi), the 6th-ranked Japanese light-flyweight and highly touted rookie, defeated Japanese No. 1 Yuki Sano (Matsuda) via TKO at 1:09 of the 10th round at Korakuen Hall on the 16th. With this victory, Inoue improves his professional record to 3-0 with 3 KOs.
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| 佐野を攻める井上（右） |
Inoue maintained a significant advantage in both speed and punching power, connecting with jabs and left hooks from the opening round and quickly opening a cut above Sano’s right eye with an upper-cut. In the second, Inoue scored a knockdown with a left hook on the break. While he was unable to secure the finish immediately, a knockout victory appeared to be only a matter of time.
However, Inoue injured his right fist in the third round, forcing him to fight primarily with his left hand thereafter. Despite the injury, he controlled the contest by diversifying his left-hand attacks into jabs, hooks, and upper-cuts, demonstrating sophisticated double and triple lead-hand combinations. Although he was caught by a Sano right hand in the fourth, Inoue responded with a short left that wobbled his opponent, followed by a sustained barrage to secure a second knockdown.
Inoue continued to punish Sano as the bout entered the second half, yet Sano displayed remarkable resilience, his face crimson with blood, leading to doubts as to whether a knockout could be achieved with the left hand alone. In the tenth and final frame, however, Inoue reintroduced his right hand in pursuit of the finish; upon landing a sharp left, the referee intervened to halt the contest.
“I injured my right hand, but I am pleased I was able to control the fight with my left,” Inoue reflected. “If I move up to the number one spot, I would like to challenge Ryoichi Taguchi (Japanese light-flyweight champion) for the title,” he added, formally stating his intent to challenge for the domestic crown.
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