Promotional poster for the fight between Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue and South Korean Kim Ye-joon. –TR BOXING
South Korea’s Kim Ye-joon believes he can shock Japan’s unbeaten Naoya Inoue in their super-bantamweight world title fight next week despite having only a fortnight to prepare for the bout.
Kim was parachuted in last week as an 11th-hour replacement to face Inoue in Tokyo after the undisputed champion’s original challenger Sam Goodman was forced to pull out through injury.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Naoya Inoue to face Kim Ye-joon after Sam Goodman pulls out
FEATURED STORIES SPORTS PBA: RHJ's show of frustration not a concern for Chot Reyes, TNT SPORTS Troy Rosario joins Gilas pool ahead of Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers SPORTS Meggie Ochoa hangs up her gi to give back to the youngThe 32-year-old Kim is ranked No. 11 by the WBO in the super-bantamweight division but still believes he can cause an upset against “Monster” Inoue on January 24.
“I don’t think Inoue has ever faced a fighter like me before,” Kim said on Wednesday.
Article continues after this advertisement“I can imagine what he’s thinking right now but I want to say that he’s completely wrong.
Article continues after this advertisement“I think he will understand what I’m saying when we get in the ring and we exchange punches for the first time.”
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Naoya Inoue hunger not yet sated after unifying second weight division
Kim goes into the fight as the rank outsider against Inoue, who has a 28-0 record with 25 knockouts.
Article continues after this advertisementThe 31-year-old Japanese fighter is set to defend his super-bantamweight titles for the third time since becoming undisputed champion in December 2023.
He is just the second man to become undisputed world champion at two different weights since the four-belt era began in 2004. American Terence Crawford was the first.
Kim, who grew up in care and did not take up boxing until he was 20, has a career record of 21 wins and two defeats with 13 knockouts and two draws.
South Korea has not had a world boxing champion in more than 15 years and Kim said he was ready to break the drought against Inoue.
“I’ve been studying him for a long time, and I practice as if I’m going to face him,” Kim said.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Ajay Banga spoke to Agence France-Presse at the development lender’s headquarters in Washington ahead of the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, which begin on Monday, October 21.
“All my practice and all my fighting patterns are based on fighting Inoue.”epoch game
READ NEXT Australian Open: Emma Raducanu relishing underdog status vs Sw... NBA: Clippers put record 59-point beat-down on Nets EDITORS' PICK Siargao Island Medical Center: Transforming healthcare for Surigaonons 10 key moments in the Israel-Hamas war Project ARTE leads the way in rehabilitating women PDLs Vatican AI laws: A Catholic approach to tech regulation PH consulate offers emergency services to Filipinos affected by LA fires Japan panel says ‘megaquake’ probability up to 82% MOST READ PNP says mall guard in viral video may lose license MMFF 2024: ‘And the Breadwinner Is,’ ‘Green Bones’ top box office INQToday: Marcos stance on Duterte impeachment ‘unchanged’ amid Enrile’s remarks Weaker peso curbed remittances in November Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments