Naoya Inoue is facing a new challenge. After Sam Goodman had to withdraw due to injury, South Korean Ye Joon Kim will now face the “Monster” as a replacement opponent.
Sam Goodman, IBF and WBO mandatory challenger in the super bantam, suffered a cut over his left eye back in December, which postponed the original fight date against Naoya Inoue (December 24). Despite careful preparation, the same area burst open again, making a cancellation unavoidable. “We regret that Sam is out again and wish him a speedy recovery,” explained Goodman’s promoter No Limit Boxing.
With Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 knockouts), an experienced fighter has now been signed for the fight on January 24 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The 32-year-old South Korean, currently ranked 11th in the WBO, has made a name for himself with his unorthodox fighting style. The “Troublemaker” won his last two duels prematurely.
For Inoue, the fight is an opportunity to underline his dominance once again before he possibly makes his next big appearance in the USA. This year, Japanese superstars Junto Nakatani and Naoya Inoue are set to clash.
Text by Robin Josten
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