News

Takuma Inoue loses title

Written by Héctor Araque on 13th October 2024.

Takuma Inoue

The Japanese boxer Takuma Inoue, younger brother of renowned champion Naoya Inoue, suffered an unexpected defeat that cost him his WBA bantamweight world title. On October 13, 2024, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Inoue fell to his undefeated compatriot Seiya Tsutsumi in an intense battle that ended with a unanimous decision in favor of the challenger. The judges’ scorecards reflected Tsutsumi’s dominance, with scores of 114-113, 115-112, and 117-110.

Inoue’s defeat surprised many, as he was considered the favorite to retain his belt and continue his path toward a unification fight. It was expected that, after defeating Tsutsumi, Inoue would face Junto Nakatani, the current WBC bantamweight world champion. This highly anticipated unification fight had generated great excitement in the Japanese boxing world, as Nakatani had expressed interest in fighting Naoya Inoue himself, Takuma’s older brother.

With this unexpected defeat, Takuma Inoue’s unification plans crumbled, changing the landscape of the bantamweight division.

Now, Seiya Tsutsumi, the new WBA champion, could be considered the next opponent for Junto Nakatani in a potential unification bout. Although there is no confirmation yet, Tsutsumi’s victory has stirred the division, leaving many eager to see how future matchups will unfold.

Tsutsumi’s win not only disrupted Inoue’s plans but also impacted the chances of a major fight in Japan. The country had been hoping to see a historic clash between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani. Both are considered two of Japan’s biggest boxing stars today. However, the original plan involving the Inoue brothers has been completely overturned following Takuma’s loss.

Previously, champion Naoya Inoue had promised that, if his brother defeated Tsutsumi, he would be willing to face Junto Nakatani. Now, with Takuma’s shocking defeat, it’s uncertain whether that bout between the two Japanese superstars will still take place. Naoya Inoue, known for his impressive skills and regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, may still fight Nakatani, but the path to that matchup now seems more uncertain.

Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by clicking here and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.