Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue’s life is easy: He trains along with his household, which has led him to grow to be one of many all-time greats of his period.
In a video function titled “THE FIGHT LIFE Naoya Inoue: The Excellent Fighter,” uploaded to Prime Rank Boxing’s YouTube web page, Inoue discusses his deep bond along with his household and love for boxing. The function adopted the lead-up to his battle with Luis Nery final Might.
“I’ve boxed ever since I can bear in mind,” Inoue stated within the video. “So it grew to become part of my life. I stored at it as a result of I like it.”
Inoue, 28-0 (25 KOs), trains along with his father, Shingo Inoue. Takuma Inoue, his youthful brother, is a former WBA bantamweight titleholder who lately misplaced his belt to Seiya Tsutsumi in October. Within the video, the household was in an remoted health club, the place they prepare collectively.
“Since I began boxing, I at all times skilled along with my household,” Naoya Inoue stated. “Being along with household is a vital a part of boxing for me. I at all times prepare with my brother like this. I at all times have him by my facet for assist.”
Inoue, 31, from Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, will battle for the eighth straight time in Japan. Inoue faces Ye Joon Kim on Friday at Ariake Enviornment, in Tokyo. The bout will stream on ESPN+.
Inoue held two fights in his house nation in 2024, defeating Nery and TJ Doheny, each by technical knockout. Inoue was scheduled for a 3rd battle in 2024 in opposition to Sam Goodman on December 24. The bout was postponed after Goodman suffered a minimize whereas sparring. Not too long ago, Goodman needed to withdraw from Friday’s battle date, which set the stage for Kim to interchange him.
Kim, a 32-year-old from Seoul, South Korea, holds two monikers, in keeping with BoxRec: “Troublemaker” and “Pacquiweather,” a play on two of the best boxers ever, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
Kim is on a two-fight win streak since an upset loss to Rob Diezel in 2023, which was Kim’s solely battle in the US. Kim is 21-2-2 (13 KOs).
