Takuma Inoue Looking to Overwhelm Sho Ishida
On May 6, it will be an all-Japanese battle when Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs) makes the second defense of the WBA bantamweight title against mandatory challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs) at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The defending champion believes he will dominate his countryman and win by stoppage.
Inoue is someone whose confidence is at an all-time high. He won the title in April 2023 with a unanimous decision victory over Liborio Solis. The first title defense for Inoue was a ninth-round stoppage over former IBF 115-pound champion Jerwin Ancajas in February 2024.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE CHAMPION
Currently in the middle of preparation for Ishida, Inoue held a public workout session for the Japanese boxing media at the Ohashi Boxing Gym in Yokohama, Japan. Inoue and his father, Shingo, discussed the upcoming contest. They feel the champion’s performance against Ancajas was part of the continued transformation.
For the majority of his career, Inoue was someone who relied on his speed, reflexes, and boxing skills. But in his last two outings, the 28-year-old was more aggressive and showed the ability to put some hurt on his opponents. Team Inoue hopes that it continues against Ishida. The mandatory challenger is a former world title challenger at 115 and is significantly taller than the champion. His height and left jab could make things difficult.
WANTING TO MAKE A STATEMENT
However, Takuma seems unfazed by those possible physical barriers. When things are all settled on fight night, he fully intends to leave the ring with the WBA belt firmly wrapped around his waist.
(Translated from Japanese) “I painfully realized there is a great difference between a decision win and a KO win. I will aim at a KO victory as a professional boxer.
I am superior to him, even at close and intermediate distances. Anyway, I am determined to overwhelm him under any circumstance.”
