Inoue knocks out Thai foe, retains IBF & WBA belts

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue made sure his record remains untainted after knocking out challenger Aran Dipaen of Thailand in the eighth round of their bantamweight clash.

It was a one-sided affair as Inoue showcased his brute force against Dipaen who became a punching bag at the start of the middle rounds.

Dipaen had his best rounds early in the fight as he unleashed some three-punch combinations that surprised Inoue.

However, it didn’t take long for Inoue to crack Dipaen’s defense as he started bullying him with his vicious hooks at the start of the fourth.

Three rounds after, Inoue went merciless on Dipaen and wobbled him badly after landing numerous shots to the head and the body.

Inoue then put the icing on the cake as he unleashed two heavy left hooks in the eighth round that forced referee Michiaki Someya to call for a fight stoppage after seeing enough of the brutal punishment the Thai had to endure.

With the win, Inoue is still undefeated with 22 wins and 19 knockouts and is still the IBF and the WBA bantamweight champion of the world.

Questions were then raised whether Inoue will face his old nemesis Nonito Donaire Jr. once again for bantamweight supremacy but both of their camps and promoters have yet to decide and finalize the contest details.