On Monday we’ll see a huge show at the Tokyo Dome, which is being used to host boxing for the first time in more than 30 years! The card is one of the best looking of 2024 with 4 world title fights on the card, all of which are interesting in their own way, with interesting sub stories all over them.
Earlier today the men involved in those 4 bouts all took part in their weigh in and all 8 fighters made the championship weights for their bouts.
The first bout, which will be the first ever all Japanese world title fight at Tokyo Dome, will seeWBA Flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11) [阿久井政悟] take on Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8) [桑原拓], in a rematch of a bout the two had for a Japanese title in 2021. On the scales both men looked in great shape and came in identically at 50.7KG, or 111.8lbs, comfortably under the limit. Coming in to this Akui is looking for his first defense, he is looking to repeat his 2021 win over Akui and build on his current form which has seen him beat the likes of Kuwahara, Takuya Kogawa, Jayson Vayson and Artem Dalakian, in what is a very nice run. As for Kuwahara he is obviously seeking revenge, looking for his first world title and looking to become the 100* Japanese world champion.
The second world title bout on the show will be another all Japanese world title bout, as WBA Bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5) [井上拓真] defends his title against Sho Ishida (34-3, 17) [石田匠]. On the scales both were 53.4KG’s, or 117.8lbs, and both looked in great shape with Ishida being the notable taller and thinner, and Inoue being the thicker built, but shorter, fighter. For Inoue this is a chance to move towards a potential unification bout, and to build on his career best win against Jerwin Ancajas earlier. As for Ishida, this bout is his second shot at a world title, and it’s fair to say that if he comes up short here he probably won’t get another. He had long been seen as a future world champion and if he fails against Inoue it’ll be fair to say that Ishida’s career will have fallen short of expectations.
The third title bout, also at Bantamweight, will see WBO champion Jason Moloney (27-2, 19) face the hard hitting Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8) [武居由樹]. Both fighters for this one came in 1t 53.4KG, or 117.8lbs, and both, again, looked in incredible shape for the bout. This bout has so many sub stories, with history, and intrigue around it. For Moloney it’s a chance to follow in the steps of the likes of Lionel Rose and notch another win at world level in the long running Australia Vs Japan rivalry, which dates back to the 1960’s. For Takei a win would see him become the second Japanese world champion with a 9-0 record to win a title in the space of just a few days, and would see all 4 Bantamweight titles in the hands of Japanese fighters, essentially collecting the titles that Naoya Inoue vacated before moving up to 122lbs. If he wins by stoppage he will also join a very short of fighters who have won all their fights up to, and including, a world title fight by stoppage.
The main event will see Unified Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23) [井上尚弥] take on Mexican challenger Luis Nery (35-1, 27). This bout could have a full magazine written about the sub stories surrounding it, from the long running Japan Vs Mexico rivalry, which has included so many sensational bouts over the years, to Nery’s history in Japan, including two highly controversial wins over Shinsuke Yamanaka, to Inoue looking to get revenge for Yamanaka, the JBC lifting a ban on Nery, and Inoue’s own legacy, as he continues to build on the career of living legend in boxing. On the scales here Nery seemed like he had a point to prove, coming in at 54.8KG;s, or 120.8lbs, well under the limit. Going in to the bout it was made clear that if Nery failed to make weight the bout was off, there would be no negotiations to keep it on, and that he was off the show. He seemed to take those comments personally, coming in so much under the limit. As for Inoue, he was 55.2KG’s, or around 121.8lbs, also making weight with no issue. After both men made weight they took party in a lengthy stare down Interestingly before the official weigh in, Nery had also taken part in a preliminary weigh in, in a t-shirt, and had still made the limit with no issue, almost as if to make a point of how easily he had made weight.
*There is some debate on how many there is, but he will be the 100th recognised by the JBC. Likewise if Kuwahara loses and Ishida wins he would become the 100th, or Ishida loses Takei has the chance.
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