Pictured: Naoya 'Monster' Inoue


Yesterday, in Koto-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, one Lineal World champion and seven TTR ranked contenders were in action. The champion, the great Naoya Inoue, and four of the contenders, Yoshiki Takei, Andy Hiraoka, Jin Sasaki, Toshiki Shimomachi, chalked up victories while the other three contenders, TJ Doheny, Daigo Higa, and Ismael Barroso, lost (to Inoue, Takei, and Hiraoka respectively).


MEN'S PROFESSIONAL BOXING:

Tuesday, September 3, 2024-

Koto-Ku, Tokyo, Japan-

Junior Featherweight Bout-
Toshiki Shimomachi (TTR #10; 19-1-3, 12 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 10
Ryuya Tsugawa (13-2, 9 KOs)
- This bout was fought for Shimomachi's Japanese super bantamweight title.
- Shimomachi overcame an eighth round knockdown to win by the scores of 96-93, 96-93, and 97-92.

Welterweight Bout-
Jin Sasaki (TTR #9, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #9, The Ring #9; 18-1-1, 17 KOs)
TKO-7 0:52
Qamil Balla (15-2-1, 8 KOs)
- Balla was cut by an accidental clash of heads in round 2.
- Sasaki floored Balla in round 3 and in round 7.
- Sasaki retained the OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific welterweight titles.

Junior Welterweight Bout-
Andy Hiraoka (TTR #11; 24-0, 19 KOs)
TKO-9 2:58
Ismael Barroso (TTR #16; 25-5-2, 23 KOs)
- This bout was an eliminator for the #1 spot in the WBA's super lightweight ratings and for Official Challenger status. Barroso's WBA Interim World super lightweight title was not on the line.
- Hiraoka, who had floored Barroso in round 6, was leading by three 79-72 scores going into round 9. He decked Barroso two more times in the ninth frame to end the bout.

Bantamweight Bout-
Yoshiki Takei (TTR #4, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #4, The Ring #4; 10-0, 8 KOs)
Unan. Dec. 12
Daigo Higa (TTR #8, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #8, The Ring #10; 21-3-1, 19 KOs)
- After 10 rounds, Takei was leading by the scores of 97-93, 96-94, and 96-94.
- Higa scored a knockdown in round 11.
- Takei responded by dominating in the 12th round to ensure his narrow but deserved victory.
- The scores were 115-112, 114-113, and 114-113.
- Takei retained the WBO World bantamweight title.

Lineal, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and The Ring World Junior Featherweight Titles-
Champion Naoya Inoue (TTR #2 P4P, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board #2 P4P, The Ring #2 P4P; 28-0, 25 KOs)
TKO-7 0:16
TJ Doheny (The Ring #7, TTR #9; 26-5, 20 KOs)
- This bout was also fought for Inoue's WBO and IBF World junior featherweight titles and his WBA Super World and WBC World super bantamweight titles.
- The scores through six rounds, 58-56, 59-55, and 59-55, all in in favor of Inoue, reflected that, although Doheny had his moments, Inoue was in charge.
- The "Monster" had, for the most part, methodically dominated Doheny until the Australia-based Irishman retired due to a back injury early in round 7.