POUND-FOR-POUND star Naoya Inoue, 28-0 (25 KOs), was set to defend his undisputed super-bantamweight crown on Christmas Eve against Australia’s Sam Goodman, 19-0 (8 KOs), until the latter twice withdrew due to an eye injury.
However, the show will go on and the opportunity of a lifetime has been accepted by late-notice replacement, Ye Joon-Kim, 21-2-2 (13 KOs), who is confident of pulling off one of boxing’s greatest ever upsets.
Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Kim will step through the ropes to take on Inoue as an 18/1 underdog, hoping to shock the world and become the first male South Korean world champion since Chi In-Jin outpointed Rodolfo López for the WBC featherweight title back in 2006.
Kim, who goes by the fan-friendly alias of ‘Pacqui-weather’ in homage to his two favourite fighters, has won by knockout in each of his last six victories, with a majority-decision defeat to Rob Diezel intervening that streak.
As a result, Kim appears to believe that his best chance of becoming the first to overcome ‘The Monster’ is by engaging in a shootout, insinuating that his power is being overlooked, he revealed upon his arrival in Japan.
“I don’t think Inoue has ever faced a fighter like me before,” he said.
“I can imagine what he’s thinking right now but I want to say that he’s completely wrong.
“I think he will understand what I’m saying when we get in the ring, and we exchange punches for the first time.”
The 32-year-old challenger has also been vocal in his opinion that his style is most effective against Japanese rivals, declaring that ‘Japanese opponents have always been the easiest for him’ at a recent open workout in Seoul.
That theory is backed up by the former IBF Asia super-bantamweight champion’s record of 7-0 against fighters from Inoue’s home country and despite the monumental jump up in levels from those whom he defeated, Kim believes that he is better prepared for Inoue than anybody.
“I’ve been studying him for a long time, and I practice as if I’m going to face him.
“All my practice and all my fighting patterns are based on fighting Inoue.”
Inoue-Kim takes place on Friday, 24 January at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, as defending champion Inoue seeks a 24th consecutive world title fight victory, with fans expectant of an easy night’s work.
