Former World Boxing Council bantamweight interim champion Takuma Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym is confident about winning the vacant World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific super bantamweight crown by beating hard-hitting Shingo Wake of Flare Yamagami Boxing Gym on Nov. 11 in Tokyo, Inoue said after the training at the Ohashi gym on Nov. 2.

Asked about the condition in preparation for his first super bantamweight fight, the 25-year-old Inoue, the younger brother of Naoya ‘’Monster’’ Inoue, said, ‘’I feel relaxed because I can move smoothly while cutting down my weight. I don’t feel any particular difference from when I was fighting as a bantamweight.’’ The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at the Korakuen Hall.

Inoue, who lost the interim title in November 2019 to then WBC champion Nordine Oubaali of France in the title unification bout, did admit Wake has a much bigger size (than Takuma). But he quickly brushed it aside by saying, ‘’I can also make my body stronger.’’

While Inoue admits his ideal fighting weight is bantamweight if he is to aim for a world title once again, he does not ignore super bantamweight if there is an opportunity for a world title challenge.
Concerning his impression of the 34-year-old Wake, a southpaw ranked third in the Asia-Pacific division, Inoue said, ‘’True he is tall, but I did not feel any particular difficulty when we had sparred before. I hope I will smother him and will come out a winner.’’

‘’Since my only aim is to take a crack at a world title again, I think I cannot lose at this point of time,’’ he continued.

Asked about his desire to challenge WBO bantamweight champion (John Riel Casimero of the Philippines), Inoue replied, ‘’I want to challenge a world champion of any sanctioning body if it’s possible.’’

Inoue said, ‘’While I don’t know what Nao (Naoya Inoue) is thinking about his future, my ultimate goal is to become a world champion with him. I want to catch up with him.’’

Inoue last fought in January this year. But he does not seem to mind the 10-month absence, adding he has improved in keeping his cool and concentration. In other words, thoroughly guarded boxing. ‘’When I exchange blows with my opponent, I won’t hustle too much so that I can watch him steadfastly, which is a grown-up boxing (with a bitter laugh).’’

Takuma Inoue has a record of 14 wins, including three knockouts, against a loss, while Wake has a 27-6-2 win-loss-draw tally with 19 KOs. Wake last fought in August last year.
Photo by Ohashi Boxing Gym