Naoya Inoue has a new opponent for his January 24 defense of the unified junior featherweight championship. South Korea's Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs) steps in as a replacement after Australia’s Sam Goodman withdrew due to a recurring eye injury. The bout will still take place at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, with Inoue’s four belts expected to be on the line.
Kim, 32, is ranked No. 11 by the WBO but has yet to establish himself as a serious threat at world level. His most recent notable result was an eight-round points loss to Rob Diezel in 2023, though he rebounded with a TKO win over Rakesh Lohchab this past May. Despite the short-notice booking, many view the matchup as a steep climb for Kim, given Inoue’s dominance.
Inoue, appropriately nicknamed "The Monster," is coming off a lopsided victory in September over TJ Doheny. With a perfect record and a reputation as one of boxing’s most feared punchers, he’s a heavy favorite to retain his junior featherweight straps against Kim. Still, the late change in opponents could add a bit of unpredictability to a fight most assume Inoue will control from start to finish.
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