Tomorrow’s major sporting event at Ariake Arena, Tokyo, headlines with the undisputed junior featherweight championship match featuring Naoya Inoue and Ye Joon Kim. The contest will last for up to 12 rounds. It marks a pivotal moment as Naoya Inoue defends his title against newcomer Ye Joon Kim, who steps in after Sam Goodman's unexpected withdrawal due to a training cut.
Naoya Inoue entered the weigh-in today, hitting the scales at 121 3/4 lbs. His status as a huge favorite reflects his impressive track record in boxing circles. On the other side, Ye Joon Kim also weighed in at 121 3/4 lbs.
The fight card features several other notable matches. In a 12-round welterweight bout, Jin Sasaki will compete against Shoki Sakai with weights of 147 lbs and 146 lbs respectively. The lightweight division will see Tsubasa Narai (132 1/2 lbs) face off with Kai Watanabe (132 1/4 lbs) over ten rounds. Additionally, within the junior featherweight category for ten rounds is Toshiki Shimomachi versus Misaki Hirano; both fighters weighed in at 121 1/2 lbs each. Lastly, the minimumweight title will be contended between Goki Kobayashi weighing at 105 lbs and Yuni Takada at just below at 104 3/4 lbs over twelve rounds.
Fighters Details
Naoya Inoue meets Ye Joon Kim for the Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title in a 10-round bout.
Naoya Inoue
- Nationality: Japan
- Stance: Orthodox
- Height: 165 cm
- Reach: 165 cm
- Total Fights: 28
- Record: 28 / 0 / 0
Inoue, undefeated with a record of 28 wins, boasts of multiple world titles in smaller divisions prior to moving up. Observing his consistent knockout power against previous opponents highlights his formidable striking capability. His recent performance suggests an upper hand with greater experience versus Kim, who has lesser championship exposure at this level.
Ye Joon Kim
- Nationality: South Korea
- Stance: Orthodox
- Height: 163 cm
- Reach: 163 cm
- Total Fights: 25
- Record: 21 / 2 / 2
Ye Joon Kim steps into the ring having won 21 fights, albeit experiencing setbacks in his career with 2 losses and 2 draws. Competing primarily within Korea, Kim’s resilience is marked by mostly regional successes. Facing Inoue represents a significant challenge due to disparity in worldwide title fight experiences and Inoue's knockout proficiency.
What time is Naoya Inoue vs Ye Joon Kim fight
Live coverage for the Naoya Inoue vs Ye Joon Kim main card will start at 04:15 AM EST on ESPN+, Sky Sports. Refer to the table below to find your local time.
| Region | Date | Main Card Start Time | Naoya Inoue vs Ye Joon Kim Ring Walks (approx.) |
| USA and Canada (EST) | Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 | 04:15 AM | 06:15 AM |
| USA and Canada (PT) | Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 | 01:15 AM | 03:15 AM |
| UK and Ireland (GMT) | Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 | 08:15 AM | 10:15 AM |
| Australia (AEDT) | Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 | 07:15 PM | 09:15 PM |
Naoya Inoue vs Ye Joon Kim Betting Odds
- Favorite: Naoya Inoue : 1.0 (-5000)
- Underdog: Ye Joon Kim : 19.0 (+1800)
| Method of victory | Naoya Inoue | Ye Joon Kim |
| By KO/TKO or disqualification | 1.1 (-1200) | 36.0 (+3500) |
| By decision or technical decision | 11.0 (+1000) | 51.0 (+5000) |
