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Add FightsATW on GoogleTakuma Inoue outpointed Tenshin Nasukawa for the second time in 10 months to retain his WBC world bantamweight title in an absorbing all-Japanese main event in Tokyo.
The challenger, former kickboxing kingpin Nasukawa, 28, suffered his second loss as a pro as Inoue scored a unanimous decision, with one judge giving him the nod 114-113 and two judges scoring the fight 116-111 for the champion.
Inoue, 30, who was flanked by his superstar brother Naoya in his corner, recovered from a seventh-round knockdown as a Nasukawa left hand floored the former, to make a second title defense in 2026.
The Ohashi Gym fighter had bested Nasukawa in their first meeting in November via a unanimous decision as his experience and sharp body work gave him a platform to secure a comfortable win to claim the vacant WBC bantamweight strap.
The Kanagawa native outgunned Kazuto Ioka in May in his first defense, while Nasukawa bounced back from his first loss as a pro fighter – across 53 bouts and three sports in kickboxing, MMA and boxing – by stopping Mexico’s former world champion Juan Francisco Estrada in a WBC eliminator in April.
Nasukawa, who went the 12-round distance for the first time in his first outing against Inoue, was expected to ask Inoue more questions as they ran things back at the jam-packed Toyota Arena in Tokyo.
Inoue quickly found his rhythm in tonight’s anticipated rematch, using his jab to resist Team Teppen ace Nasukawa, who, unlike in their first bout, was unable to tee off first.
Inoue closed the distance and tagged southpaw Nasukawa with a counter right hand as the latter battled to pin down the elusive champion.
Nasukawa was more measured in his approach this time as Inoue, who understandably looked more polished, was intent on commanding the centre of the ring.
Inoue’s impressive shot selection and the inferior output of Nasukawa – going into the fourth round – left the combat sports all-rounder with substantial work to do to impose himself in his second shot at world honors.
Nasukawa, who had vowed to fight on instinct, was more reserved than expected and fell further behind in round five as Inoue began to apply more pressure.
The challenger needed to make adjustments and show more urgency or risk having to chase down the champion.
Nasukawa struck in the seventh round with a brilliantly timed left hand down the middle sending Inoue down to the canvas to a raucous reaction just 30 seconds into the round.
Inoue recovered well, regained his composure, and mocked his countryman, inviting pressure from Nasukawa.
A series of jabs from Inoue kept the advancing Nasukawa at distance to see out the round.
Round eight saw Nasukawa try to get back on the front foot, but Inoue regained his flow and his feeling, producing some solid shots to the body.
While Inoue was scoring, Nasukawa was chasing and had to resort to trying to counter the champion’s crisper and cleaner work going into the championship rounds.
Nasukawa pressed in the penultimate stanza as Inoue, who felt assured of victory and became more economical, gestured for his rival to test him.
Inoue was too wily to be troubled in the final round and could afford to be reluctant to engage as Nasukawa, who came out swinging, missed with a lunging, overhand right.
There was no lack of endeavor from a game Nasukawa, who again finished second best against a classy operator in Inoue.
Takuma Inoue vs Tenshin Nasukawa 2 Undercard Results
On a talent-laden undercard, teak-tough Australian Sam Goodman survived a lung-busting battle of attrition against Ryosuke Nishida to strike gold for the first time in his 24-fight career.
Goodman produced a career-best display, which was punctuated by his work rate and well-known desire to bring a world crown back to Australia, as he recorded a lopsided points decision.
The newly-crowned IBF interim world super bantamweight champion, who was able to sustain a relentless pace, said: “I’m feeling absolutely ecstatic; this has been a lifetime’s work to make this happen.
“Thank you to my team, the boys here, and the crowd who supported me. This is for everyone; thank you to everyone who supported me. I love Japan, but I’m here to compete with the best of them.”
Johannesburg juggernaut Ricardo Malajika enhanced his growing reputation with a hard-fought, split-decision win over Japanese foe Tomoya Tsuboi.
Malajika extended his winning streak, which dates back to 2022, to 10 fights as he left the previously unbeaten Tsuboi bloodied and beaten as the highly-regarded home fighter was foiled in his tilt at the vacant WBC World Super Flyweight crown.
Unbeaten home fighter Ryusei Matsumoto opened the televised portion of the card by capturing the WBO interim world minimum title as he handed an overmatched Russell Acosta Silveira – who was earning his first payday outside of Mexico – the first blemish on his resume.
Southpaw standout Matsumoto, who improved his record to 9-0-0, negotiated his first encounter against a non-Japanese opponent with a workmanlike display for a unanimous decision win.
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