Super Arena, Saitama, Japan. Takuma Inoue (16-1, 3 KOs), younger brother of pound champion Naoi Inoue, defeated veteran compatriot
Gakuyu Furuhashi (28-9-2, 16 KOs), defended the WBO Asia Pacific belt and took the title of Japanese champion in the second bantamweight (up to 55.3 kg) from his opponent.
The fight began as expected. Furuhashi tried to force a fight, threw more punches, but acted with extremely low efficiency – the favorite cheated on his feet, failed, countered, intercepted, or hid in the clinch.
Too bad this guy has no power. In the second round, the non-knockout Inoue was noted for a bright three-hit combination of uppercuts, and also hit the opponent near the eye. In response, Furuhashi went through something resembling a successful attack – he forced a fight in infighting.
those uppercuts @TakumaInoue_122 | #InoueDonaire2 pic.twitter.com/owMPRysXRV
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 7, 2022
The underdog was very open to uppercuts, so Inoue continued to break his defense with successful series of attacks from below. In the 3rd round, he even shocked Furuhashi, but decided not to rush to finish off. In response, the veteran began to act even more desperately and aggressively, which made it possible to even out the course of the fight a little – at times he pinched Inoue Jr. at the ropes or in the corner of the ring. We have a really cool fight!
Just listen to those shots from ringside @TakumaInoue_122 x #InoueDonaire2 pic.twitter.com/8yBokESAgE
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 7, 2022
Furuhashi tried to attack the favorite’s hull more often, often succeeding below the waterline. By the 7th round, he received a second warning from the referee and calmed down a bit. The veteran played in the attacks, including the championship rounds, and Inoue preferred to act as rationally as possible and at times even a little passively.
The score of the judges: 119-109 and twice 120-108.
Inoue UD 12.
On the undercard in the welterweight limit (up to 66.7 kg), local prospect Andy Hiraoka (20-0, 15 KOs) beat his compatriot Shuna Akaiwu
(7-4-1, 5 KOs). At stake was the title of champion of Japan.
NO ANSWER @Andy_H888 batters Shun Akaiwa for the TKO victory. #InoueDonaire2 pic.twitter.com/EoMqgOh495
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 7, 2022
Hiraoka TKO 6.