- Naoya Inoue defends his super bantamweight title against Ye Joon Kim on Jan. 24 at the Ariake Arena in Japan.
- This will be Inoue’s third title defense since unifying all his titles in the division.
- Inoue is the -5000 betting favorite, and Ye Joon is the +1400 betting underdog.
Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue returns to action when he defends his undisputed super bantamweight title against South Korean challenger Ye Joon Kim on Jan. 24 inside the Ariake Arena in Japan.
This bout marks the third title defense of Inoue’s undisputed crown after beating two other challengers in 2024.
Because of his 28-0 record, 89% finish rate and his championship experience, Inoue heads into the title fight as the heavy favourite with -5000 boxing odds. Meanwhile, Ye Joon comes in as the overwhelming underdog with +1400 odds at BetMGM’s online sportsbook.
Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim Odds
- Naoya Inoue: -5000
- Ye Joon Kim: +1400
- Tie: +2500
Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim: Prediction
I predict that Inoue will win via TKO/KO against Ye Joon in this super bantamweight world title showdown. His power, precision, footwork, and fight IQ will be too much for the South Korean challenger to handle.
There’s a reason why Inoue is nicknamed “The Monster” because once he connects a punch against his opponents, it almost automatically stuns them. He maximizes his footwork and fight IQ to read the tendencies of his opponents and find holes in their defense.
Once Inoue downloads enough information, he quickly goes to work and activates his relentless mode to overwhelm his opposition with combinations and power punches. This was evident in his previous fights against Marlon Tapales, Luis Nery, and TJ Doheny.
With all due respect to Ye Joon, this is a big step up for him because he went from fighting for continental championships to facing one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in this generation. Although he has a decent finish rate of 62%, it might not be enough for him to hurt or daze the Japanese champion.
The massive discrepancy between the fight odds between Inoue and Ye Joon should be enough indication that an early TKO/KO is expected for the former against the latter and continue his path of destruction in the division.
THE SHOW MUST GO ON, IT’S FIGHT WEEK 👹#InoueKim | JAN 24 | @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/2D3ujpzDL7
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) January 20, 2025
Naoya Inoue Recent Fight Results
Inoue is a decorated boxer who captured several world titles in four different weight classes. Before becoming the undisputed super bantamweight champion, he was a former light flyweight, super flyweight, and bantamweight world champion.
Since moving up to his current division, he has dispatched Stephen Fulton, Tapales, Nery, and most recently, Doheny to unify all the belts in the 122-pound weight class.
Ye Joon Kim Recent Fight Results
Ye Joon is a solid contender in the super bantamweight division who has fought across the globe. He made his professional debut in February 2012 and has collected a few minor titles, such as the WBC Youth World Super Bantamweight title and the IBF Asia Super Bantamweight title.
He currently rides a two-fight win streak and is fresh off his triumph against Rakesh Lohchab to win the WBO Oriental Super Bantamweight title in May. This match with Inoue will be Ye Joon’s biggest fight of his career.
Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim: Tale of the Tape
| Naoya Inoue | Ye Joon Kim | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 31 | 32 |
| Height | 5’5” | 5’4” |
| Record | 28-0 | 21-2-2 |
| Reach | 67.5 inches | N/A |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| TKO/KO Percentage | 89% | 62% |
Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim: Date and Start Time
Jan. 24, 6 a.m. E.T.
Jan. 24, 5 a.m. C.T.
Jan. 24, 4 a.m. M.T.
Jan. 24, 3 a.m. P.T.
