Inoue vs Akhmadaliev LIVE!
Naoya Inoue easily avoided suffering the same fate as Canelo Alvarez as he brushed aside Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Japan on Sunday. ‘The Monster’ remains the undisputed super-bantamweight champion of the world and is still firmly on course for a huge showdown with compatriot Junto Nakatani in 2026 as he successfully defended his full set of titles in the 122-pound division for the fifth time.
One of the sport’s pound-for-pound best and most destructive knockout artists remains unbeaten at 31-0 and looks as formidable as ever, though this time he earned a wide unanimous decision win on the scorecards as he now likely moves on to a bout against Mexican contender Alan Picasso Romero in Saudi Arabia later this year.
Akhmadaliev, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, previously reigned as Uzbekistan’s first-ever unified world champion but failed to take his chance in a fight he had been pursuing for two years. On the undercard at Nagoya’s newly-opened IG Arena, the impressive Christian Medina emphatically dethroned WBO bantamweight champion Yoshiki Takei and Ryusei Matsumoto beat Yuni Takada by technical decision after a sickening clash of heads following early wins for all of Taiga Imanaga, Shunpei Ohata, Toshiki Shimomachi and Taisei Ayano.
Inoue vs Akhmadaliev latest news
- Inoue easily beats Akhmadaliev to stay undisputed
- And the new! Dominant Medina stops Takei
- Matsumoto beats Takada by technical decision
- Early undercard results
A second professional defeat then for Murodjon Akhmadaliev and his first since losing the WBA and IBF unified super-bantamweight world titles against Marlon Tapales in an upset in 2023, snapping a three-fight winning streak.
Not too much anyone can do against The Monster in that sort of form, but he will be disappointed not to have fared better there in an opportunity that he had waited some two years for.
He drops to 14-2. Be careful what you wish for indeed!
Naoya Inoue easily beats Murodjon Akhmadaliev
13:06 , George FloodHere come the scores...
117-111, 118-110 and 118-110 - all in favour of course of the dominant Naoya Inoue, who produces a superb performance to win by unanimous decision in front of an adoring home crowd in Nagoya.
No knockout, but he easily retains his undisputed super-bantamweight world titles for the fifth time and stays unbeaten as a professional, moving to 31-0.
He remains firmly on course for that all-Japanese super-fight against unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani in Tokyo in 2026.
Mexico’s Alan Picasso Romero up first in Saudi Arabia later this year?
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
13:03 , George FloodRound 12
Akhmadaliev hasn’t lacked heart tonight at any point, but he’s just been thoroughly outclassed from the very first bell.
Until he lands his best shot of the fight so far eight seconds from the end, delivering a crunching right hook that seemed to land flush and knock Inoue back against the ropes.
He needed more of that! Too little, too late.
We go to the scorecards, where surely Inoue has won handsomely.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:58 , George FloodRound 11
Inoue is really rolling, switching up his stances and picking a fantastic range of purposeful punches as he continues to prove an absolute class above Akhmadaliev.
Just one round left to go, and absolutely no question whatsoever that the challenger needs a knockout in the final three minutes.
But he looks understandably exhausted and weary, surely no chance.
Inoue is boxing like a dream.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:55 , George FloodRound 10
Inoue has been tagged with a fair amount of punches today during these furious close-range exchanges, but nothing is hurting him and he is always landing the more painful flurries.
More success for Akhmadaliev towards the end of the 10th, but enough to sneak the round? I’m not so sure.
How many rounds can you realistically give to the challenger here?
Even a couple feels generous, in truth.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:50 , George FloodRound 9
Swelling is now visible underneath both eyes of Akhmadaliev, who is eating some really fierce combinations from an increasingly confident Inoue.
He’s pulling out the full range of eye-catching shots here, hammering in an uppercut, then a couple of wincing right upstairs/left to the body combinations.
This is simply masterful from the brilliant Inoue at the moment, with blood coming from the nose of a weary Akhmadaliev.
The Monster is enjoying himself.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:45 , George FloodSome masterful counter-punching from Inoue as we reach the midway point of the eighth round in Nagoya.
Some real spite on these shots as usual, Akhmadaliev was hurt by the last one.
Matrix-like reflexes throughout this bout from Inoue to avoid these telegraphed power shots being wound up and attempted by Akhmadaliev.
Ricky Hatton dies aged 46
12:43 , George FloodHere is the latest from Standard Sport on the tragic breaking news this afternoon that British boxing legend and former super-lightweight and welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton has died at the age of 46.
Manchester favourite Hatton was responsible for some of the best memories for British boxing fans during his illustrious career.
That unforgettable 2005 win over Kostya Tszyu was an all-time victory, while he of course also went on to battle the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:37 , George FloodRound 6
A far better fight this now as Akhmadaliev dials up the pressure again but then proceeds to absorb multiple fierce shots to the body from a venomous Inoue.
The crowd are getting into it.
Inoue comfortably ahead, but has to be so wary of Akhmadaliev’s own power that could change things in an instant.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:34 , George FloodRound 5
Far more combative from Akhmadaliev in the fifth, but still all the best punches are landing from Inoue.
He’s showing excellent anticipation and timing to drive in some spiteful hooks to both head and body off both hands.
A piercing shot lands just before the bell and pushes back the challenger.
Anything decent thrown by Akhmadaliev is being returned with vengeance by The Monster.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:31 , George FloodFeels very difficult to focus on this fight now in the wake of that awful news about the legendary Ricky Hatton.
More action in the fourth in Nagoya, but Inoue is having the better of all of these more frequent exchanges.
Akhmadaliev can’t do much to turn the early tide at the moment.
Ricky Hatton dies aged 46
12:29 , George FloodAbsolutely tragic breaking news this afternoon that British boxing legend Ricky Hatton has been found dead at his home in Greater Manchester at the age of 46.
Just awful, shocking news. RIP to a true great of the ring.
Can’t believe it.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:26 , George FloodRound 3
Akhmadaliev with more success sustaining some pressure early in the third, but Inoue quickly regains his composure to return to the front foot.
Not much landing still from either man, in truth.
Inoue still rattling in some nice counters to the body to remain on top.
Not a huge amount of action to report so far.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:21 , George FloodRound 2
The speedy Inoue is being careful and methodical, picking his moments and whipping in a stinging right to the body early in the second.
The fast counters are working at the moment again Akhmadaliev, who is walking down the champion but struggling to get any meaningful shots off.
A real tactical battle so far.
The reflexes from Inoue are unreal, as ever.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:18 , George FloodRound 1
A very cagey start indeed to this bout, perhaps to be expected from Inoue after he was surprisingly knocked down early again by Ramon Cardenas in his last fight in Las Vegas in May.
Akhmadaliev is a far more dangerous and more powerful opponent, and he can’t afford to be reckless.
Undoubtedly the shot of a quiet first fires in just before the bell, a lovely crisp counter hook from Inoue that lands flush.
Good start from The Monster.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:15 , George FloodHere we go!
Can Naoya Inoue stay unbeaten and retain his undisputed super-bantamweight titles once again?
Or will former unified champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev spring an upset and inflict a first-ever professional defeat on The Monster?
Time to find out. Both men in white trunks with black trim and white gloves.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:12 , George FloodA 26th consecutive world title fight for the unbeaten four-division, two-time undisputed world champion Naoya Inoue.
What a CV!
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:08 , George FloodWe’ll now hear the national anthems of both Japan and Uzbekistan, then the final introductions from Jimmy Lennon Jr.
Not long to go now until that first bell. Stay tuned!
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:05 , George FloodQuite an entrance from Inoue as his silhouette rises up on a special platform before he appears to huge cheers around Nagoya’s IG Arena.
He shadow boxes on stage before descending down the steps, super-bantamweight world titles paraded proudly in a line behind him.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
12:02 , George FloodHere we go with today’s main event ring walks!
Murodjon Akhmadaliev is on his way to the ring first up, dressed in a traditional Uzbekistani robe and red beret.
He gifted Inoue his own robe during fight week.
Mexico's newest world champion...
11:55 , George FloodWhat a performance from Christian Medina in tonight’s surprisingly one-sided co-main event...
MEDINA HAS DONE IT 🇲🇽
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 14, 2025
Mexico has a new world champion! pic.twitter.com/ky6iNvsFE6
Yuni Takada update
11:48 , George FloodGreat to hear that Yuni Takada is now up and walking around at IG Arena after receiving stitches in the aftermath of that scary clash of heads earlier tonight that brought a premature end to his fight against Ryusei Matsumoto.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
11:35 , George FloodJust the main event to come now at Nagoya’s IG Arena.
Don’t go anywhere, Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev is coming up very soon.
You won’t want to miss it!
And the new! Christian Medina stops Yoshiki Takei
11:28 , George FloodRound 4
Absolutely brutal from the laser-focused Medina as some massive shots rain down on Takei, who is helpless in the corner as he eats blasting uppercut after blasting uppercut.
The referee has no choice but to step in and wave it off.
And the new! Medina becomes a world champion for the first time, taking that WBO bantamweight title with an emphatic stoppage victory.
A new world champion for Mexico! Takei looks stunned after losing his belt and unbeaten professional record.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:24 , George FloodRound 3
Medina with another vicious right hand that lands upstairs, followed by several spiteful flurries to the body and more sharp left hooks.
Takei looks completely overmatched at the moment, though does piece together a useful combination late in the third.
Medina on the offensive again just before the bell.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:20 , George FloodRound 2
Takei is rocked by another thunderous right hand early in the second!
He’s being battered by that right and beaten up on the inside.
A walloping left hook also knocks the champion off balance.
Medina lands another painful straight right down the pipe and follows it up with another smart left hook.
2-0 to the challenger. This is already looking ominous for Takei.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:18 , George FloodRound 1
It was an absolute corker of an overhand right, set up by the left hook to the body from Medina that landed flush in Takei’s face there as the two men exchanged furiously at close range.
What a shot. Takei makes it to the end of the first but could be in big trouble here.
Medina looks in a spiteful mood.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:16 , George FloodRound 1
A lively start to the first, Takei probing for an early opening but stung hard to the body by a determined Medina.
Medina uncorks a big right hand and the champion is down in the corner!
Wow. He’s back up but on shaky legs with 40 seconds to last before the bell...
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:14 , George FloodToday’s co-main event is off and running at last!
Can Yoshiki Takei stay unbeaten and retain that WBO bantamweight world title for the third time?
Time to find out...
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:11 , George FloodAfter another airing of the Japanese national anthem, Kimigayo, Jimmy Lennon Jr is back with the final introductions.
Then we will be underway at last in the second of tonight’s three world title fights.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
11:02 , George FloodFinally it’s time for the co-main event of the day in Nagoya.
Mexican challenger Christian Medina is on his way to the ring, to be followed by reigning WBO bantamweight world champion Yoshiki Takei.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
10:54 , George FloodYoshiki Takei and Christian Medina are both keeping active during this long wait, working the pads in their respective dressing rooms.
Hopefully not too much longer before they are in the ring.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
10:53 , George FloodThere’s a monster backstage at Nagoya’s impressive IG Arena.
Naoya Inoue having his hands wrapped ahead of the main event.
Laser focused 👹@NaoyaInoue_410 gets the hands ready for war! pic.twitter.com/vpVxKPsqze
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 14, 2025
Inoue vs Akhmadaliev tale of the tape
10:46 , George FloodA bit of a delay before the co-main event with that first fight between Ryusei Matsumoto and Yuni Takada having ended much earlier than expected.
Here’s the tale of the tape for today’s undisputed showdown...
Tale of the Tape for today’s clash between Naoya Inoue and Murodjon Akhmadaliev for The Ring and undisputed super-bantamweight titles 🥊 pic.twitter.com/3CGHkywC9g
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) September 14, 2025
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
10:30 , George FloodChristian Medina, AKA ‘Chispa’, is 25-4 and last beat Daniel Ramirez in Guadalajara in May.
He’s won four fights on the bounce since losing to future IBF bantamweight champion Ryosuke Nishida in Osaka in the summer of 2023.
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
10:24 , George FloodThis will be the third defence of the WBO bantamweight title won by Yoshiki Takei with that historic upset of Australia’s Jason Moloney in Tokyo back in May 2024.
The former super-bantamweight champion kickboxer was left in tears after a stunning victory in just his ninth professional boxing bout.
He retained the gold by outpointing former WBC flyweight champion Daigo Higa last September, then stopped Thailand’s Yuttapong Tongdee in his last outing in Yokohama in May.
Akhmadaliev in the house
10:20 , George FloodMurodjon Akhmadaliev has arrived at IG Arena...
Enter the Uzbek titan 🇺🇿@AkhmadalievMJ | #InoueAkhmadaliev pic.twitter.com/ZANYHaI45v
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) September 14, 2025
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina next
10:15 , George FloodApproaching the co-main event already in Nagoya.
Yoshiki Takei defends his WBO bantamweight title against Mexico’s Christian Medina very shortly.
Ryusei Matsumoto beats Yuni Takada by technical decision
10:08 , George FloodJimmy Lennon Jr announces that we will go the judges’ scorecards for a technical decision.
All three unsurprisingly score the shortened bout in favour of Matsumoto, 50-46, 50-45 and 50-45.
He is the new WBA ‘regular’ minimumweight champion, but there will be no celebrations after that scary clash of heads that left Takada needing medical help.
We will bring you updates on his condition as soon as they are available.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
10:03 , George FloodTakada is being attended to in the ring and now stretchered backstage with a hushed silence having fallen over IG Arena.
More scary scenes in Japanese boxing after the tragic deaths of Shigetoshi Kotari and Hiromasa Urakawa with brain injuries sustained on the same card in Tokyo last month.
Praying Takada is okay.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:59 , George FloodRound 5
The two men engage at close range early in the fifth, with Takada sent backwards and down after a furious tussle.
It’s a sickening clash of heads and a horrible gash is opened up immediately on Takada’s face.
The fight is quickly waved off and a stretcher and medical staff are quickly in the ring.
Hopefully he’s okay.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:56 , George FloodRound 4
Matsumoto, in the red and black shorts and red gloves, is so fast, clean and accurate with the majority of his work, with a superb arsenal of shots.
He’s walking down Takada, sporting white and green trunks and green gloves.
Matsumoto looks to land a short left hand and Takada goes down, but that’s rightly ruled a slip not a knockdown.
Takada is now cut a little around his left eye, think there was a clash of heads there before he fell.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:52 , George FloodRound 3
Takada has gone from fighting off the back foot early on to now being on the front foot and trying to take this fight to the inside where he can.
It’s a risky approach though as his own flurries, chiefly targeted at the body, are inevitably followed by better, sharper responses from Matsumoto, who has power in both hands.
Takada absorbs a thunderous left to the body.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:49 , George FloodRound 2
A fast start to the second of 12 scheduled rounds from the powerful Matsumoto, flashing his speed and more venomous short shots.
Takada tries to go to the body but he’s caught out by some thudding flurries, eating a gem of a right hook that clearly wobbled him as he tried to land an uppercut of his own.
Takada is landing some shots when he engages, but Matsumoto is just too fast and too accurate with some punishing counters.
A superb start from Matsumoto, who comfortably has the opening two rounds in the bag.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:44 , George FloodRound 1
Takada is fighting off the back foot early on, circling around, moving plenty and looking to get in and out fast where he can without getting tagged.
Matsumoto is happy to be the aggressor taking centre ring, landing some sharp early shots and already showing his impressive range of punches.
He whips out that straight left upstairs with venom and also shows a lovely right hook.
He’s staying nice and patient, waiting for an opening.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:40 , George FloodUnderway in our main card opener after the playing of the Japanese national anthem.
Jimmy Lennon Jr on the mic in Nagoya.
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
09:32 , George FloodThe fighters are on their way to the ring for our first world title bout in Nagoya.
Ryusei Matsumoto is unbeaten at 6-0 and already looking to claim a world title against the 16-8-3 Yuni Takada.
The WBA’s vacant ‘regular’ strawweight belt is on the line between their No1 and No2-ranked fighters.
Or minimumweight, if you prefer. This division is 105 pounds.
Early undercard results
09:21 , George FloodSome early results to bring you from IG Arena, where it looks like a fair amount of the undercard is already done and we’re going straight into the world championship triple-header, beginning with Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto.
Taiga Imanaga beat Yudai Murakami to pick up the vacant Japanese lightweight title.
Shunpei Ohata defeated Ei Go, while Toshiki Shimomachi beat Han Sol Lee and Taisei Ayano was victorious over Yusuke Nawa.
Junto Nakatani invited to ringside
09:17 , George FloodLet’s see if Junto Nakatani is present at ringside in Nagoya today, having been invited to the fight.
Naoya Inoue watched the unified bantamweight world champion’s latest win against Ryosuke Nishida in Tokyo in June as the two Japanese rivals remain on a collision course for a major super-fight in the capital in 2026.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev could perhaps accuse Inoue’s camp of looking past him, with a bout against Mexican contender Alan Picasso Romero apparently already lined up for ‘The Monster’ in Saudi Arabia later this year.
Inoue vs Akhmadaliev prediction
09:06 , George FloodToday's main event has the tagline ‘be careful what you wish for’, with Murodjon Akhmadaliev having long sought a fight against Naoya Inoue.
Uzbekistan’s first-ever unified world champion is a highly dangerous opponent who carries significant power, with 11 of his 14 professional wins to date coming by knockout.
It’s a clear step up for Inoue, who insists that Akhmadaliev will be the toughest opponent he has ever faced, in any division.
Inoue remains at the top end of pound-for-pound lists and is still one of the sport’s most fearsome KO artists, though there have been some slight weaknesses exposed during his undisputed run at 122 pounds - with Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas inflicting his first career knockdowns against the odds.
He responded comprehensively to win by stoppage on both occasions, but will need to adopt a far less aggressive and more tactical, thought-out approach against Akhmadaliev, who has the power to put him away if he gets careless.
We expect an entertaining battle that should see ‘The Monster’ come through late on to keep his winning record intact.
Inoue to win by late stoppage.
Undercard and running order
08:59 , George FloodYoshiki Takei makes the third defence of his WBO bantamweight title against Mexico’s Christian Medina in today’s co-main event at the newly-opened 17,000-capacity IG Arena in Nagoya.
Yuni Takada and Ryusei Matsumoto go head to head for the vacant WBA ‘regular’ strawweight belt, while Yudai Murakami and Taiga Imanaga compete for the Japanese lightweight title.
Naoya Inoue vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Yoshiki Takei vs Christian Medina
Yuni Takada vs Ryusei Matsumoto
Yudai Murakami vs Taiga Imanaga
Ei Go vs Shunpei Ohata
Toshiki Shimomachi vs Han Sol Lee
Taisei Ayano vs Yusuke Nawa
How to watch Inoue vs Akhmadaliev
08:55 , George FloodTV channel: Inoue vs Akhmadaliev will not be broadcast live on television in either the UK or the United States.
Live stream: Inoue’s promoters Top Rank have, however, confirmed that the event will instead be shown live exclusively and for free in the UK and USA via their official Facebook page.
Inoue vs Akhmadaliev live
08:49 , George FloodGood morning and welcome to Standard Sport’s latest live coverage of a stacked weekend of boxing across the globe.
After Lewis Crocker’s historic rematch win over Paddy Donovan in Belfast and Terence Crawford’s stunning dethroning of Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, it’s now off to Japan where Naoya Inoue makes the fifth defence of his undisputed super-bantamweight titles on Sunday.
‘The Monster’ - with rival Junto Nakatani potentially watching on from ringside - faces potentially one of the toughest tests of his illustrious career to date against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, the hard-hitting former unified world champion and Olympic bronze medalist from Uzbekistan.
Today’s undercard coverage begins from 9am BST, 5pm JST, 4am ET and 1am PT, with the main event expected at approximately 11:40am BST, 7:40pm JST, 6:40am ET and 3:40am PT.
Stay right here for fight build-up and live updates throughout!
