THE RESULT: WBA bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue ended a competitive and entertaining fight in Tokyo by landing a right uppercut on Jerwin Ancajas’ body in round nine. Ancajas, from the Philippines, could not get up and was stopped at the one minute and 44 seconds mark of the round, giving Inoue a successful first defence on home ground.
KEY MOMENTS: In the third round, Inoue’s right hand appeared to shake Ancajas and marked a turning point. However, in the next round, Ancajas retaliated by hurting Inoue to the body with well-placed left hands. Despite this, Inoue showed resilience and seemed to enjoy the intense battle.
RECORDS: Inoue, 28, now has a record of 19-1 (5), while Ancajas, 32, drops to 34-4-2 (23).
TALKING POINT: Comparisons to his brother Naoya are inevitable for Takuma Inoue due to their similar styles and desire to entertain. However, Takuma lacks his brother’s punch power, necessitating more movement and caution in the ring. Despite this, Takuma showcased his own skills and ended the fight decisively.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: Inoue has many exciting fights to pursue at bantamweight, including matchups with Jason Moloney, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Junto Nakatani, who recently won the WBC title in impressive fashion.