Naoya Inoue defeats Kim to retain undisputed super

Naoya Inoue defeated Kim by TKO in the tenth round to retain his undisputed super bantamweight world championships.

The fight took place on September 15, 2026, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo before a crowd of 12,450 spectators. Inoue landed a crushing left hook to the body at 2:18 of the tenth round that forced Kim to the canvas. Though Kim rose before the count of ten, the referee waved off the contest deeming him unable to continue safely.

This victory marked Inoue's 29th professional win with 24 knockouts and his fifth successful defense of the unified WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles he has held since 2022.

Inoue controlled the fight from the opening bell using his superior footwork and precise combinations to break down Kim's defense. By the middle rounds, Kim's left eye had begun to swell significantly from repeated jabs, limiting his vision and offensive output.

Inoue's body attack proved particularly effective, landing 39 clean shots to Kim's midsection that visibly slowed the challenger's movement in the championship rounds.

After the fight, Inoue expressed interest in moving up to featherweight to pursue undisputed status in a second division, stating he would consult with his team before making any decisions about his next challenge.

This victory further cements Inoue's status as one of the greatest active pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history. At 32 years old, he now joins an elite group of Japanese fighters who have held undisputed titles in multiple weight classes.

His ability to finish fights decisively, with 83 percent of his wins coming by knockout, continues to draw comparisons to legendary fighters like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. In their primes.

Kim showed tremendous heart and durability, absorbing significant punishment throughout the bout before finally succumbing to the body shot in the tenth round.

Despite the loss, Kim earned respect for his willingness to engage and his refusal to retreat, though his lack of volume punching and predictable left-hand lead made him vulnerable to Inoue's timing and counterpunching.

Inoue's team has indicated they will evaluate offers from featherweight contenders while also considering a potential rematch with Luis Nery, who lost a controversial split decision to Inoue in May 2024. No official date or opponent has been announced for his next fight.

The super bantamweight division remains active with emerging talents like Angelo Leo and Marco Verde positioning themselves for future title shots, though none currently hold a mandatory position with any of the four sanctioning bodies.

• Naoya Inoue improved to 29-0 with 24 KOs after the tenth-round TKO victory

• The fight took place on September 15, 2026 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo with an attendance of 12,450

• Inoue landed 142 power punches at 48 percent accuracy while Kim landed 68

• This was Inoue's fifth defense of the undisputed super bantamweight titles he unified in 2022