TOKYO – Naoya Inoue emphatically defended his status as one of boxing’s premier talents,defeating Murodjon Akhmadaliev by unanimous decision on Saturday in Tokyo,retaining his WBC,WBA,WBO,and IBF titles. Inoue improved to 31-0 with the victory, further solidifying his position as a dominant force in the super bantamweight division.
The fight, long sought by Akhmadaliev, saw Inoue control the bout from the opening bell, utilizing a sharp left jab to dictate the pace and limit Akhmadaliev’s offensive opportunities.Inoue’s footwork and precision proved too much for Akhmadaliev, consistently landing combinations and targeting both the head and body.
Inoue established control by setting up behind his fast jab, frustrating Akhmadaliev’s attempts to land his powerful right hand. While Akhmadaliev had moments of success, Inoue consistently responded with venomous counters, often having the final say in exchanges. By Round 8, Akhmadaliev visibly grew frustrated by his inability to impose his power.
throughout the fight, Inoue demonstrated superior speed and accuracy, moving in and out of range with ease. Swelling around Akhmadaliev’s face became apparent in the later rounds, while Inoue remained largely unhurt, even appearing to taunt his opponent at times. A late right hand from Akhmadaliev in Round 12 proved insufficient to alter the outcome.
On the undercard, christian Medina captured the WBO bantamweight world title with a fourth-round knockout of Yoshiki Takei. Medina (26-4, 19 KOs) floored Takei (11-1, 9 KOs) with a right hand in the first round and continued to dominate, ultimately finishing the fight with a barrage of uppercuts in the corner, prompting referee Ramon Pena to stop the contest.
