Takuma Inoue Defends WBA Bantamweight Title with Unanimous Decision Victory
Inoue Overcomes Early Knockdown to Dominate Ishida
On Monday, May 6th, 2024, Takuma Inoue defended his WBA bantamweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Sho Ishida at the Tokyo Dome. The judges scored the fight 118-109, 118-109, and 116-111 in favor of the champion.
In the opening round, Inoue suffered a flash knockdown after walking into a counter left hand from the taller Ishida. However, the surprise was short-lived, and Inoue soon regained control of the fight. He attacked Ishida’s long, wiry frame with hooks to the body and targeted the head with his powerful right uppercut.
“The early knockdown was a surprise, but I knew I had to stay focused and stick to my game plan,” said Inoue. “I was able to outwork Ishida and impose my will throughout the fight.”
By the third round, Ishida’s face was marked, and in the fourth, it appeared his nose was bleeding. Inoue’s relentless pressure and effective inside fighting nullified Ishida’s advantages in height and reach. Despite Ishida’s valiant efforts to impose himself, Inoue grew increasingly confident as the fight progressed.
While Ishida never stopped coming forward, he lacked the effectiveness to truly threaten the champion. Inoue boxed smartly in the final round, and although Ishida came alive in the final 30 seconds, the champion was never in any serious danger.
With the victory, Inoue improved his record to 20-1 (5 KOs), while Ishida dropped to 34-4 (17 KOs).
Akui Retains WBA Flyweight Title in Dominant Performance
In the co-main event, Seigo Yuri Akui successfully defended his WBA flyweight title with a points victory over Takku Kuwahara. Akui, who had previously stopped Kuwahara in 2021, once again demonstrated his dominance, winning by scores of 118-110 and 117-111 (twice).
Kuwahara enjoyed some success with his stick-and-move tactics, but Akui’s educated aggression and powerful jab were the defining factors in the contest. The champion’s work to the body and head with strong hooks proved particularly effective, and he finished the fight strongly in the 12th round, by which time Kuwahara was visibly fatigued.
Akui’s record now stands at 20-2-1 (11 KOs), while Kuwahara drops to 13-2 (8 KOs).
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