Naoya Inoue knocks out Kim in round 4 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, live on ESPN+
Inoue vs. Kim: Round 4: Well, that didn’t take long. Inoue, as sharp as ever, dominated the fourth round with clinical precision. He backed Kim into a corner, cutting off every angle, and the South Korean simply couldn’t find a way out. Counters slammed into him relentlessly, leaving no doubt about who controlled the fight.
The moment of doom came with a sickening left hook to the body that echoed through the arena. Kim, desperate to show some bravado, beckoned Inoue forward—a bold move for a man already drowning. Inoue obliged with a devastating right hand that sent Kim crashing down, leaving no need for a count. Game over.
Inoue vs. Kim: Round 3
Inoue is turning this into a target practice session, methodically breaking Kim down with vicious combinations. Those jabs are snapping Kim’s head back, and the relentless right hands to the body are taking their toll. The man’s right eye is swelling up like a warning light, but he’s still trying—bless his heart—to fire back with some desperate left counters. Spoiler: It’s not working.
Kim’s stuck on the ropes, a sitting duck as Inoue lines up shot after shot. The body blows are thudding with authority, and there’s no way Kim can absorb many more of those. He’s on borrowed time.
As the third round closes, Inoue cranks up the intensity even further. The champion is shifting into high gear now, and you have to wonder: will it end early in the fourth, or does Kim somehow survive to see another round of destruction?
Inoue vs. Kim: Round 2
Naoya Inoue is putting on a clinic, fully dictating the pace and showing Kim exactly why he’s leagues ahead. A sharp right hand to the body near the ropes had the crowd wincing, their “oohs” and “aahs” matching the precision of every shot the champion lands.
Kim, bless him, is trying to hang in there, even managing a single counter amidst the chaos. But let’s be real—one shot isn’t going to stop the relentless pressure from Inoue. A crisp left hook and a chopping right followed, hammering home the inevitable. The only real suspense left is whether Kim’s corner will spare him before Inoue decides to end it himself.
Inoue vs. Kim: Round 1
Well, this is exactly what we expected—a total mismatch. Kim looks like a deer in headlights, barely moving while Inoue picks him apart with ease. The “Monster” is already unloading precise shots, and you can practically hear the clock ticking on how much longer Kim will last.
Inoue’s dominance is glaring, and this feels more like a public sparring session than a fight. 10-9 Inoue, but let’s be honest—it won’t be long before Kim’s flat on the canvas.
Naoya Inoue has just made his entrance like the king he is, descending on a raised platform to remind the world who owns the ring.
Let’s not kid ourselves here. Kim isn’t here to win; he’s here to survive—and even that’s a stretch. Against a force like Inoue, it’s not if he gets knocked out; it’s when. So, let’s have some fun with this. When will Kim hit the canvas?
Drop your predictions. My money’s on round 3—if Inoue’s feeling generous.
ALL RESULTS: Naoya Inoue Win KO 4 Ye Joon Kim Jin Sasaki beat Shoki Sakai (UD 12);
Welterweights Yuni Takada defeated Goki Kobayashi (SD 12);
Minimumweights Kai Watanabe beat Tsubasa Narai (SD 10);
Lightweights Toshiki Shimomachi defeated Misaki Hirano (MD 10); Super Bantamweights
