Naoya Inoue makes his return this Friday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, defending his undisputed junior featherweight crown against South Korea’s Ye Joon Kim. The last-minute change in opponent came after Sam Goodman withdrew due to a reopened cut. Now, Inoue aims to deliver a show-stealing performance in front of his home crowd, with the fight streaming live on ESPN+, Sky Sports and Kayo PPV.
Inoue, 31, fought twice in 2024, most recently stopping TJ Doheny in the seventh round last September. Despite the disruption to his schedule, the Yokohama-born superstar remains focused on producing a knockout. ”Of course, if there is an opportunity I will go for the KO,” said Inoue.
Kim, 32, is riding a two-fight win streak, having rebounded from a close loss to Rob Diezel in his only U.S. appearance. Although he faces the daunting challenge of taking on “The Monster,” Kim believes he can test the three-division champion. Meanwhile, Inoue hopes to thrill fans, especially those who have never attended a live boxing event, by showing the power that’s made him a legend.
As for the future, Inoue has hinted at a possible U.S. return later in 2025. Until then, the focus is firmly on Friday’s clash, where Inoue plans to keep clearing each hurdle one bout at a time.
Image Credit: Kyodo News