NAOYA INOUE is looking to become a four-weight world champion as he takes on Stephen Fulton in a huge Tokyo clash.
Regarded as one of the best boxers in the world, Inoue is undefeated and boasts and impressive knockout ratio.
Fulton, however, is no slouch himself and holds the WBC and WBO belts at super-bantamweight, which Inoue will experience for the first time.
- UK ring-walks time: 1pm BST (approx)
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
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RAM ROD
Ramirez was cold and calculated until the perfect opening presented itself.
The moment he saw an opening he pounced and pummelled Shimizu to the floor with a range of power punches.
Shimizu climbed off the Koto-Ku canvas but his nose was leaking blood and Ramirez smelled it.
Another attack unravelled Shimizu and the ref saved him.
RAMIREZ VS SHIMIZU R4
Ramirez is catching every punch Shimizu throws on his tight mint-green glove guard.
The little Cuban master is always fighting on the inside to nullify Shimizu’s height and reach.
Ramirez unloads with Shimizu pinned on the ropes and drives blows into his guard and body.
The gangly challenger survives the assault and lasts another session.
RAMIREZ VS SHIMIZU R3
Ramirez dips and feints and grins when Shimizu falls for his trickery.
A right hook from the Cuban lands but Shimizu is tough than his lean body looks.
Southpaw Ramirez scythes in a couple of left hooks but Shimizu’s high guard catches them.
Ramirez scores with an uppercut and a right hook to end the stanza.
RAMIREZ VS SHIMIZU R2
Three straight Ramirez shots pepper the Shimizu guard then the bent shocks drive the Japan Olympian backwards.
Shimizu’s jabs don’t have any malice and Ramirez wants him to throw to allow openings for him to exploit.
Shimizu accidentally lands a low blow and apologises with a touch of the gloves.
Ramirez ends the round with right hooks to head and body.
RAMIREZ VS SHIMIZU R1
Shimizu is taller and longer but looks frail already.
Ramirez is tipped for greatness in the pro ranks so needs to look tasty here.
Ramirez whips in a right to the ribs and then tries an uppercut but they are testing the water more than splashing it.
Shimizu does not look like a power puncher, despite 10 KOs on his record.
RAMIREZ VS SHIMIZU R1
Veteran Shimizu is up against it here, despite being the home fighter.
The Japan southpaw is 37 but has only had 11 pro wins and one loss.
Ramirez was rocked in his very first pro fight, suffering a shock loss.
But he is an amateur legend and now has the WBO featherweight world title around his narrow waist.
DON’T DONAIRE MISS IT
The ruthless and brilliant Naoya Inoue performance in the rematch win over the icon Nonito Donaire was just replayed in Japan.
In less than two rounds Inoue slashed and smacked the the same man who had taken him 12 hard rounds three years earlier.
If there were any doubts around Inoue before then, they were viciously erased last June when he battered the brilliant Filipino Flash.
CAST OF THOUSANDS
But Japan’s three-weight legend hit back with a solid defence and a crisp counter.
He said: “Japan has its own local rules. Even in the U.S. there are local rules in each state, and the wrapping methods are different.
“Our fight will be held in Japan on the 25th, so of course I will follow the Japanese rules.
“Don’t suck it up. Just fight.”
NO GLOVE LOST
Fulton’s trainer Wahid Rahim claimed Inoue was cheating with his hand wrapping.
He said: “In previous fights, Inoue and his team have wrapped his hands with an excessive amount of tape, and then applied more tape to the gauze, which creates a cast.
“We can wrap our hands in the same fashion but then where is the level of safety for our fighters?”
WRAP ROW
Stephen Fulton’s trainer accused Team Inoue of illegal hand wrapping in the build-up.
Right now Inoue is getting his sledgehammer hands wrapped with tape and gauze and a Team Fulton member is in the dressing room watching and filming the procedure.
There does not appear to be any issues with the way the THREE WEIGHT world champ is having his tools wrapped right now.
CUBAN FLASH
Robeisy Ramirez defends his WBO feather crown against Shatoshi Shimizu next up.
The Cuba sensation is an Olympic legend with two gold medals.
But he lost his first pro fight with a split decision over just four rounds.
The recovery was rapid, though, and he won his first world title in his last bout against tough Isaac Dogboe.
SAKAMA SLAMMER
Horikawa suffered a right straught and then a hook, he lost his gumshield and his footing.
The wise and caring referee dived in and only then did Sakama hit the deck out of exhaustion.
Horikawa stayed on the floor to recover but is now up and embracing Sakama.
Both boys impressed and Sakama moves on toward a light-fly world title crack.
SAKAMA WINS R8 TKO
Sakama lands another meaty heat shot and Horikawa goes down but the ref rules it a slip.
Horikawa starts shipping blows and is chased around tghe ring.
Sakama lands too many shots as Horikawa tries to hold.
The ref jumps in and saves Horikawa with just 10 seconds left.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R8
Horikawa is throwing it all at the final minutes and Sakama needs to hang on.
Sakama throws four straight shots that will impress the judges and then hits the body again.
Sakama lands a flush left hook to the face and then chases Horikawa around the ring hurling more.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R8
The final round in a close and thrilling fight.
These brave and dangerous fellas are just 108lbs – not even 8st.
Horikawa is bleeding from his nose but leaps back into the action.
Horikawa makes a great start with a long right hand that rocks Sakama’s head back.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R6
Excellent 108lbs action in the centre of the ring as these two Japanese fighters meet in the middle and thrash it out.
A well made 50-50 fight here with Sakama just starting to show his schooling and class.
Horikawa never stops slashing away and lands a left to the body.
This looks destined for the full eight rounds.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R5
Horikawa gets a warning from the left over a low blow but Sakama isn’t hurt and the action resumes.
Superb left-hook-left-uppercut combo from Sakawa, elite stuff.
Sakama backs his prey into a corner and drives a right to his gut but Horikawa is a tough cookie.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R4
Sakama lands a left hook to the body but Horikawa doesn’t even flinch.
The red-gloved KO artist aims a right to the ribs too and that scores with the judges.
A clever close-range right hook from Sakama lands but Horikawa always replies with a dig of his own.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R3
Sakama starts to show his power and precision.
Horikawa is vulnerable when pinned on the ropes.
Sakama’s lead left hook to the head is a honey punch but he targets the body well too.
Sakama switches stance to southpaw just before the bell as he aims to cut the ring down.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R2
Both of these Japanese light-flys are technically sound and tough.
Horikawa looks far better than his record suggests, maybe his two draws were harsh.
But a good stiff jab from Sakawa lands like a backhand and rocks his opponent’s head back again.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R1
Lots of clever faints and footwork movements early on.
Stiff jabs from both pocket rockets.
Horikawa gets his head rocked back by a Sakama jab.
Sakama starts to target the body and lands with a right to the ribs.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R1
Favourite backers will lump on undefeated 7-0 Sakama who is dangerous with 6 KOs.
Underdog Horikawa is 3-1-2 and will do well to hear the final bell.
Sakama lands a loud right hand to start but Horikawa jabs back sharply.
MONSTER MORNING
A monster morning of boxing on the breakfast menu.
How man Cool Boys will be sneaking out of work to watch the match up.
Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue vs Stephen ‘Cool Boy’ Fulton is the mouthwatering main event.
But first we have a handful of undercard crackers coming live from Japan.
Let’s eat.
SAKAMA VS HORIKAWA – R7
Peach of a long uppercut from Sakama but Horikawa was on a roll seconds before.
Horikawa seems to be upping the ante in the final two rounds, knowing he needs something special.
Sakama’s defence is impressive but Horikawa breaches it with a right hand to the cheek.
Sakama lands another right hand to the face but Horikawa is a live dog in this fight and eats the abuse before firing back.
RAMIREZ WINS TKO R5
A vicious and precise attack drops Shimizu.
The brave challenger beats the count but is bleeding from the nose and struggling.
Another volley is thrown and the ref dives in to save the battered Japan man.
Classy from Ramirez.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
