Naoya Inoue vs Ye Joon Kim LIVE: Latest updates and results as Japanese star defends undisputed titles – UK Times

The shot that ended the fight…

Bob Arum, Inoue’s US promoter at Top Rank: “The great country of Japan will give this great Inoue to the city of Las Vegas this spring.”

He said the same thing after Inoue’s last fight, in September, so let’s see what happens! Inoue has been in talks with Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh, too.

Inoue acknowledges the plan to go to Vegas in spring.

As Kim walks up the ramp and out of the arena, Inoue applauds his beaten foe – encouraging the fans in Tokyo to join in.

Inoue is conducting his post-fight interview in the ring.

In one corner, Kim is wincing – and seemingly quite emotional.

Naoya Inoue def. Ye Joon Kim via fourth-round TKO (2:25).

Still unbeaten, still undisputed, still the Indy Sport pound-for-pound No 1. Same old Monster.

Inoue is increasing the volume of his output. Again he corners Kim, forcing the challenger to keep moving his head.

Now Inoue gets through with a right and left hook, back-to-back!

A thudding left to the body, too. Kim comes back and lands a decent right straight, then a grazing left overhand.

Counter left hook by Inoue, not too heavy but timed soooo well, and Kim feels that…

He retreats, and Inoue CRUMPLES him with a right cross! Kim collapses into the ropes, in the corner, and the referee saves the challenger during the count!!

Inoue is still on the front foot, varying his targets between body and head.

Kim with some decent offence, though, trying a couple of combinations.

The Korean already has a bruise under his left eye, however…

He’s cornered again but moves his head well before skipping away. Now he’s trapped in the opposite corner briefly.

Clean cross upstairs by Inoue. Two body shots after that.

Inoue stays light on his feet, bouncing around. He digs a cross into the midriff of Kim, who shakes his head. Now Inoue crashes forward with a cross upstairs; it’s partially blocked, and Kim shakes his head again.

Inoue catches an exiting Kim with a grazing left hook.

More jabs from Inoue in this round. He misses with a big overhand attempt… Now a decent right hand lands for the Japanese!

That gets Kim to open up a bit himself, with a combination that Inoue largely blocks. Clean right by Inoue – a sort of shovel uppercut!

He’s finding his range, it seems. He shuffles into range and back out, landing a short cross in the middle.

Good head movement to avoid an overhand left by Kim, then Inoue lands a right. Nice counter right hook by the Monster, too.

A much more active round by both men, with Inoue looking very comfortable as it stands.

Inoue stands orthodox, while Kim is southpaw for now.

Inoue holds the centre of the ring early, then corners Kim. But neither man is throwing much; Inoue is seemingly content to feint and make reads.

Some feints from Kim, too, but Inoue is not biting. Now the champion flicks out a few jabs.

A couple of crosses added by Inoue, whose latest lands to the chest of Kim.

A first round light on action.