Former undisputed world bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’the Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym has been engaged in sparring sessions with two Mexican partners invited by the gym in preparation for his challenge to World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton of the United States for his titles on May 7 at Yokohama Arena, southwest of Tokyo.

According to the gym, Inoue went five rounds of sparring with Bryan Acosta, 24, on May 6 after officially announcing his challenge to Fulton at a March 6 press conference in Tokyo.

The undefeated Acosta is ranked 23rd in the WBC’s featherweight division and has a professional record of 18 straight wins, including seven knockouts.

The other Mexican, Cesar Vaca Espinoza, 21, had a sparring session with Inoue’s younger brother Takuma Inoue, the World Boxing Association’s second-ranked bantamweight, as Takuma will face third-ranked Liborio Solis of Venezuela for the vacant WBA bantamweight title on Apr. 8 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, the gym said. Espinoza, also undefeated, has a 16-1 win-draw tally with 10 KOs.

The two are expected to serve as sparring partners at the gym throughout March.
Photo by Ohashi Boxing Gym