(Oct. 10, 2023) – Japanese world champion Takuma Inoue will defend his WBA bantamweight crown against Filipino former world champion Jerwin Ancajas on Wednesday, November 15, at Ry?goku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue, the younger brother of pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue, looks to make the first defense of his strap, while Ancajas aims to secure a world title in a second weight class.

In the world championship co-feature, Artem Dalakian puts his WBA flyweight world title on the line against Japanese contender Seigo Yuri Akui.

Inoue-Ancajas, Dalakian-Akui, and additional undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. in the early morning hours on ESPN+.

Inoue (18-1, 4 KOs) is a nine-year pro who compiled a 13-0 record before challenging Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantamweight world title in November 2019. Inoue was dropped early in the fight, but showed resilience down the stretch. He has not lost a fight since then. In April, the 27-year-old captured the vacant WBA crown with a decision win against former junior bantamweight world champion Liborio Solis.

Ancajas (34-3-2, 23 KOs) is a 31-year-old southpaw who captured the IBF junior bantamweight world title against McJoee Arroyo in September 2016. He made nine successful defenses, including stoppage wins over Jamie Conlan and Israel Gonzalez. He lost the belt via decision to Fernando Daniel Martinez in February 2022 and was bested in their rematch later that year. He returned in June with a fifth-round TKO against Wilner Soto.

Dalakian (22-0, 15 KOs) is a 12-year pro who captured the WBA flyweight world title with a unanimous decision win against Brian Viloria in February 2018. He has defended his title six times, including a decision win over David Jimenez in January. Akui (18-2-1, 11 KOs), winner of six straight, is making his first attempt at a world title. 

In other streaming action from Tokyo:

• Yuki Yonaha (13-5-1, 8 KOs) returns in an eight-round junior featherweight fight against Juiki Tatsuyoshi (14-0-1, 10 KOs). Yonaha will make his third appearance of 2023, following a unanimous decision loss to former multi-division kickboxing world champion Tenshin Nasukawa in April and a split decision win over Karoon Jarupianlerd in August. Tatsuyoshi looks to remain unbeaten after a fifth-round TKO against Taketo Yamahara in August.
   
• Bantamweight prospect Riko Masuda (3-1, 3 KOs) will lock horns against Filipino former world title challenger Jonas Sultan (19-6, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Masuda looks to bounce back from his first pro loss, while Sultan is coming off a decision win over Frank Gonzalez last month.  

Naoya Inoue made his claim to be considered the pound for pound best fighter in the world as he stopped Nonito Donaire to add the WBC Bantamweight title to his WBA/IBF crowns in Saitama, Japan.

At the end of round one, Inoue dropped Donaire with a quick counter right to the head. Donaire decided the fight Inoue, but that turned out to be a mistakes as Inoue rocked Donaire several times and buckled him badly with a left hook. Inoue jumped on Donaire and landed a big left hook that sent Donaire down again. When he got to his feet, he has a cut over his right eye and referee Michael Griffin deemed that Donaire was in no shape to continue at 1:24.

Inoue of Japan is now 23-0 with 20 knockouts. Donaire of the Philippines is now 42-7.

The bout was a rematch of a classic 2019 Fight of the Year, where Inoue won a decision.

Takuma Inoue Decisions Furuhashi

Takuma Inoue won an entertaining 12-round unanimous decision over Gakuya Furuhashi in a super bantamweight fight.

Inoue was dominant with crisp uppercuts with both hands against the hard charging Furuhashi. Furuhashi’s left eyelid was bleeding un the final round.

Inoue of Japan is now 16-1. Furuhashi is 28-9-2

Andy Hiraoka stopped Shun Akiawa in round six of a scheduled 10-round super welterweight bout.

In round one, Hiraoka dropped Akaiwa with a left uppercut.

In round six, Hiraoka turned up the heat and landed a hard barrage of punches that hurt Akaiwa, and the bout was stopped at 1:24.

Hiraoka is now 20-0 with 15 knockouts. Akaiwa is now 7-4-1.

Naoya Inoue unified the IBF and WBA Bantamweight titles as well as winning the World Boxing Super Series by winning a 12-round unanimous decision over former four-division champion Nonito Donaire in a terrific action fight in Tokyo, Japan.

The fight was ebb and flow throughout as both guys to establish themselves. In round two, Inoue was cut over his right eye from a punch. The cut bothered Inoue as Donaire was able to be more confident which translated into a good activity level. Inoue steadied himself in the middle rounds as he stunned Donaire several times.

Donaire showed his championship mettle by hurting Inoue very badly in round nine when he landed a hard right hand that had “The Monster” holding on. With the cut worsening, Imoue was able to get through the round. Donaire was not able to capitalize and then the fight was sewn up by Inoue has landed a ripping body shot that sent Donaire to the canvas. After weathering Inoue’s storm, Donaire was able to land one of his vaunted left hooks that stunned Inoue. That set up for a round 12 which both fighters stood toe to toe with Inoue getting the better of the action.

Inoue won by scores of 117-109, 116-111 and 114-113 to raise his mark to 19-0. Donaire is now 40-6.

Nordine Oubaali retained the WBC Bantamweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Takuma Inoue.

In round four, Oubaalui landed a right to the body that was followed by a huge left to the head that sent Inoue down for the 1st time in his career. Oubaali won most of the rounds with good counter punching. Inoue made one last effort in the final frame as he drove Oubaali into the ropes with a big left hand, but it was too little-too late as Oubaali won by scores of 120-107. 117-110 and 115-112.

Oubaali of France is now 17-0. Inoue of Japan is 13-1.

Shokichi Iwata stopped Alejandeo Cruz Valladares in round five of a scheduled six-round light flyweight bout.

In round five, Valladares began to bleed from his nostrils. Valladares continued to take big shots and was saved by the referee who stopped the bout at 2:10.

Iwata, 107 3/4 lbs of Tokyo, JAP is now 4-0 with three knockouts. Valladares, 106 3/4 lbs of Mexico City is 5-2.