Naoya Inoue headlines May 21st Tokyo card against Ricardo Rodriguez

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Two of Japan’s top fighters will defend their titles on May 21st in Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum. WBO Super Flyweight Champion Naoya Inoue takes center stage, facing #2 contender Ricardo Rodriguez, while IBF Light Flyweight Champion Akira Yaegashi squares off with interim champ Milan Melindo.

The card will also feature 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Satoshi Shimizu’s third pro fight.

Inoue (12-0, 10 KO), after fighting just once in 2015 due to injury, went 3-0 in 2016, going the distance with David Carmona before smashing Petchbarngborn Kokietgym and the never-before-stopped Kohei Kono. He turns 24 in two days and remains one of boxing’s most terrifying young talents.

Rodriguez (16-3, 5 KO) crunchatized Carlos Narvaez in his last fight and has won four straight overall since dropping a split decision to Carmona in 2015.


Yaegashi (25-5, 13 KO) is 5-0 since consecutive knockout losses to Roman Gonzalez and Pedro Guevara. He beat Javier Mendoza for the belt two Decembers ago and will be making his third defense. Melindo (35-2, 12 KO), whose only losses are to Juan Francisco Estrada and the aforementioned Mendoza, beat Teeraphong Utaida for his interim belt in November.

It’s not the best fight out there for “The Monster”, but with Gonzalez, Estrada, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, and Carlos Cuadras all occupied, it makes sense. Inoue vs. anyone is generally worth a watch.
 
Inoue may as well build his record up for now till there is a big fight available.
 
apparently he said in a press conference that he's eyeing 118 next and a US debut in September
 
Didn't he say he has no interest in fighting at 115 now that Gonzalez lost? If he's gonna have one more at 115 should have made it Srisaket.
 
Didn't he say he has no interest in fighting at 115 now that Gonzalez lost? If he's gonna have one more at 115 should have made it Srisaket.

he can smash rodriguez, wait a bit for the srisaket and chocolatito rematch, and fight the winner? i'm not too happy about him leaving the division quite yet, there are still fights to be made there.
 
he can smash rodriguez, wait a bit for the srisaket and chocolatito rematch, and fight the winner? i'm not too happy about him leaving the division quite yet, there are still fights to be made there.
Same. Hopefully this Rodriguez fight is a sign he had a change of heart.
 
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