TOKYO – Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super bantamweight titles with a unanimous decision victory over Murodjon Akhmadaliev on Monday at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo. The judges scored the bout 117-111, 118-110, and 118-110 in favor of โInoue, โฃwho demonstrated a masterful performance โagainst theโค previously undefeated Uzbek challenger.
The winโ silenced critics who questioned Inoue’s willingness to face Akhmadaliev โข(14-2,โฃ 11โค kos). Inoue (now 25-0, 22 KOs) controlled the fight with โคsuperior speed and strategic boxing, counteringโ Akhmadaliev โขeffectively throughout the majority of the contest.
“We saw tonight what a complete fighter Inoue has become,” said Inoue’s co-promoter bob Arum.”Not โonly a great puncher but [also] great strategy, [and] greatโ footwork. That’sโข what the real all-time greats have, and Inoue demonstrated that tonight.”
inoue dictated โคthe โคpace from the opening bell, consistently beating Akhmadaliev to the punch. While Akhmadaliev โฃarguably won a few roundsโข in the second half, Inoue remained comfortable, weathering a late rally that included a momentarily wobbling right โhook in the final โฃ15 seconds of the fight.
The victory showcased Inoue’s versatility, proving he is not solely a knockout artist but a โคhighly โฃskilled technician.
Inโข other results from the card:
* โ Christian Medina (26-4, 19 KOs) defeated Yoshiki Takei (11-1, โฃ9 KOs) via fourth-round TKO to capture the WBO bantamweight title. Medina floored Takei in theโ first round and finished the fight with a barrage of โright uppercuts.
* Ryusei Matsumoto (7-0, 4 KOs) โฃwon the WBA minimumweight titleโค by unanimous technicalโ decision (50-46, 50-45, 50-45) over Yuni Takadaโข (16-9-3, 3 KOs). Takada was rendered unconscious by a clash of heads in theโ fifth round and was stretchered from the arena, later regaining consciousness backstage.
