Takuma Inoue loses title
In a surprising turn of events, Japanese boxer Takuma Inoue, younger brother of the celebrated champion Naoya Inoue, lost his WBA bantamweight world title on October 13, 2024. The bout, held at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, saw Inoue fall to his undefeated compatriot Seiya Tsutsumi in an intense matchup that concluded with a unanimous decision in favor of the challenger. The judges scored the fight 114-113, 115-112, and 117-110, reflecting Tsutsumi's commanding performance.
Inoue entered the fight as the favorite, with expectations high for him to retain his title and set up a potential unification clash against current WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani. This anticipated bout had generated significant excitement in the Japanese boxing scene, especially as Nakatani had previously expressed interest in facing Naoya Inoue, Takuma’s older brother.
With Takuma's unexpected loss, those plans for unification have now crumbled, reshaping the bantamweight division's landscape. Seiya Tsutsumi, now the new WBA champion, emerges as a potential opponent for Nakatani in a future unification bout, stirring anticipation among boxing fans. However, there has been no confirmation regarding this matchup yet.
Tsutsumi's victory not only disrupted Inoue’s aspirations but also diminished hopes for a historic showdown between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani—two of Japan’s brightest boxing stars. The original plan for a fight involving both Inoue brothers has been completely overturned following Takuma's defeat.
Naoya Inoue had previously promised that he would be willing to face Nakatani if his brother emerged victorious against Tsutsumi. Now, with Takuma’s shocking defeat, the possibility of a bout between these two Japanese superstars appears uncertain. While Naoya Inoue, known for his exceptional skills and regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, may still seek a fight with Nakatani, the pathway to that matchup now looks significantly more complicated.
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