Naoya Inoue: record, next fight and profile →
This Friday night in Tokyo, World Boxing Council Flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi (20-3, 10 KOs), will defend his title against the two time world champion, Nicaraguan Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez (39-0, 33 KOs) in what is expected to be a barn burner! At a press conference held in Tokyo, challenger and champion were finally face to face for the first time.
All fighters slated for Friday's big show in Tokyo were on point during Thursday's pre-fight weigh-in. Headlining the show, Akira Yaegashi attempts the fourth defense of the World flyweight crown as he faces unbeaten Román Gonzalez. Yaegashi (20-3, 10KOs) came in exactly at the 112 lb. flyweight limit. The bout is his first since a 9th round stoppage of Odilon Zaleta this past April. On the same show, Gonzalez scored a 4th round stoppage of Juan Purisima in his final tune-up. Gonzalez (39-0, 33KOs) weighed slightly lighter than the defending champion, tipping the scales at a chiseled 111.75 lb. A win will make him just the second fighter ever from Nicaragua to win major titles in three weight classes. The only other to perform the feat is the late Alexis Arguello.
Months worth of speculation finally became a reality for the flyweight division, as lineal champ Akira Yaegashi is set to make the fourth defense of his crown versus unbeaten former two-division champ Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez. The bout will take place September 5 in Tokyo, Japan. Also on the card, 21-year old wunderkind Naoya Inoue makes the first defense of his 108 lb. title versus Thailand's Samartlek Kokietgym.
WBC flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi (20-3, 10 KOs) retained his belt with a ninthe round knockout of tough Odilon Zaleta (15-4, 8 KOs) of Mexico. It was a tough fight with Yaegashi winning a majority decision after eight rounds of action, 77-76, 77-75 and 76-76. Up next is a showdown with Roman Gonzalez. Two-division champion Roman “El Chocolatito” Gonzalez (39-0, 33 KOs) crushed Juan Purisima (11-3-1, 3 KOs) in three one-sided rounds to set up a fight with WBC flyweight champion Akira Yaegashi.
Japan's Naoya Inoue dethroned World Boxing Council light-flyweight champion Adrian Hernandez of Mexico with a technical knockout in Tokyo on Sunday in just his sixth professional bout. Inoue, who turns 21 on Thursday, remained the aggressor from the opening bell and floored the Mexican with a right straight to the face in the sixth round. Canadian referee Mike Griffin gave the fight to the Japanese fighter by technical knockout at 2:54 into the round.