Japanese boxing stars Takuma Inoue and Tenshin Nasukawa are set to face off once again this Sunday, September 27, as Inoue defends his WBC bantamweight title in a highly anticipated rematch at Toyota Arena Tokyo in Japan.
Their first encounter took place last November for the vacant WBC bantamweight crown, where Inoue handed Nasukawa—formerly a kickboxing sensation—the first defeat of his professional boxing career via a closely contested decision. Since then, Inoue (22-2, 5 KOs), who is the brother of pound-for-pound standout Naoya Inoue, successfully defended his belt against Kazuto Ioka. Meanwhile, Nasukawa (8-1, 3 KOs) earned another shot at the title by knocking out former two-division champion Juan Francisco Estrada in a WBC eliminator this past April.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Inoue vs. Nasukawa rematch and the exciting fight card happening this Sunday in Tokyo.
When and Where:
The rematch will take place Sunday, September 27, at Toyota Arena Tokyo. The event is set to start at 3:30 a.m. ET, with the main event ring walks expected around 7 a.m. ET.
How to Watch:
Fans in the United States can stream the entire fight card live on DAZN, while viewers in Japan can watch via Prime Video.
Odds:
Inoue enters the fight as a strong favorite to defend his title, with U.S. betting odds listing him at approximately -260, while Nasukawa is the underdog at about +200.
Additional Fights on the Card:
The event also features a significant IBF interim super bantamweight title bout between former IBF bantamweight champ Ryosuke Nishida (11-1, 2 KOs) and Sam Goodman (22-1, 8 KOs), with the winner possibly positioning themselves for a future confrontation with Naoya Inoue. Two more world title fights highlight the card: Tomoya Tsuboi (3-0, 2 KOs) versus Ricardo Malajika (17-2, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBC super flyweight title, and an undefeated showdown in the WBO interim strawweight division between Ryusei Matsumoto (8-0, 4 KOs) and Russell Acosta (17-0, 13 KOs).
Full Fight Card:
- WBC bantamweight championship: Takuma Inoue (-260) vs. Tenshin Nasukawa (+200) — 12 rounds
- IBF interim super bantamweight championship: Ryosuke Nishida (-225) vs. Sam Goodman (+175) — 12 rounds
- WBC super flyweight championship: Tomoya Tsuboi (-450) vs. Ricardo Malajika (+325) — 12 rounds
- WBO interim strawweight championship: Ryusei Matsumoto vs. Russell Acosta — 12 rounds
- Featherweight: Hayato Aiko vs. Natsuki Kuramochi — 4 rounds
Fan Take:
This rematch between Inoue and Nasukawa is a pivotal moment for Japanese boxing, showcasing the nation’s rising talent and potential global stars. A thrilling contest here could significantly elevate the sport’s profile in Asia and beyond, inspiring a new generation of fighters and fans alike.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
