Naoya Inoue's convincing victory ensures 'quick turnaround' for US return

LAS VEGAS – Naoya Inoue’s disposal of replacement opponent Ye Joon Kim keeps him on track for what an official said will be a “relatively quick turnaround” for his planned return to fight in Las Vegas in the spring, and to maintain as many as four fight dates this calendar year.

Japan’s undisputed junior featherweight champion Inoue, 29-0 (26 KOs), happily obliged Kim’s taunts to come forward in the fourth round of their title bout Friday morning US time in Tokyo, flattening the South Korean.

While Inoue and his promoters were originally targeting an April date in Las Vegas, the postponement caused by injured IBF mandatory Sam Goodman delayed the bout one month and will push Inoue’s likely meeting with WBC top-ranked Alan David Picasso of Mexico to May or June, with a bout to follow in Saudi Arabia and perhaps a year-end showdown with unbeaten countryman and bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani eyed for year’s end or early 2026.

The WBA has threatened to strip Inoue for not fighting its mandatory challenger and former unified champion Murodjon “M.J.” Akhmadaliev immediately, but Akhmadaliev could still potentially emerge as the chosen opponent in Saudi Arabia.

Inoue said in the ring Friday that he has set an ambitious 2025 schedule. 

“They want to fight at least three times this year, but … lots of balls still in the air at this point,” said the official, who requested anonymity due to his position in Inoue negotiations. “They want to fight a lot of times this year. If it’s four, starting in January is good and a quick turnaround is important, but no month set yet,” for the US return after Inoue has staged three prior American cards.