Naoya Inoue knocks out Kim in the fourth round at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, live on ESPN+

Inoue vs. Kim: Round 4

Well, that didn’t take long. Inoue, as usual, dominated the fourth round with clinical precision. He had put Kim in a corner, cut every corner, and the South Korean simply could not find a way out. Counters hit him relentlessly, leaving no doubt as to who controlled the fight.

The moment of doom came with a sickening left hook to the body that echoed across the arena. Kim, desperate to show some courage, motioned Inoue forward — a bold move for a man who was already drowning. Inoue responded with a devastating right hand that sent Kim collapsing, no count needed. Game over.

Inoue vs. Kim: Round 3

Inoue turns this into a target practice session, methodically breaking down Kim with vicious combinations. Those punches knock Kim’s head back, and the relentless right hands to his body take their toll. The man’s right eye swells like a warning light, but he still tries – bless his heart – to fight back with some desperate left counters. Spoiler: it doesn’t work.

Kim is stuck on the ropes, while Eno lines up shot after shot. Body blows pack with power, and there’s no way Kim can take any more of those. He’s on borrowed time.

As the third round winds down, Inoue increases the intensity even more. The champion is shifting into high gear now, and you have to wonder: Will it end early in the fourth round, or will Kim somehow survive to see another round of destruction?

Inoue vs. Kim: Round 2

Naoya Inoue creates a clinic, completely setting the pace and showing Kim exactly why he’s so far ahead in tournaments. A sharp right hand to the body near the ropes had the crowd spooked, and the “oohs” and “ahhs” matched the precision of every shot the champion landed.

Kim, bless him, tries to hang in there, even manning one counter in the chaos. But let’s be real, one shot won’t stop Inoue’s relentless pressure. A crisp left hook and chopping right followed, hammering home the inevitable. The only real suspense remaining is whether Kim’s corner will save him before Inoue decides to finish it off himself.

Inoue vs. Kim: Round 1

Well, this is exactly what we expected, a complete mismatch. Kim looks like a deer in the headlights, barely moving as Inoue easily picks him apart. “The Beast” really unloads precise footage, and you can practically hear the clock ticking to determine how long Kim will last.

Inoue’s dominance is blatant, and this feels more like a public sparring session than a fight. 10-9 Inoue, but let’s be honest, it won’t be long before Kim appears on the canvas.

Naoya Inoue just entered like a king, descending on a raised platform to remind the world who owned the ring.

Let’s not kid ourselves here. Kim is not here to win. He’s here to survive, and even that is an exaggeration. Against a powerhouse like Inoue, it’s not a matter of if he gets fired; It’s time. So, let’s have some fun with this. When will Kim hit the canvas?

Drop your expectations. My money is on the third round, if Inoue is feeling generous.

All results:

• Naoya Inoue Win 4 Yi Jun Kim
• Jin Sasaki beat Shuki Sakai (UD 12); Welterweight
• Jun Takada Defeated by Goki Kobayashi (SD 12); Minimum weights
• Kai Watanabe Won against Tsubasa Narai (SD 10); Light weights
• Toshiki Shimomachi defeated Misaki Hirano (MD 10); Super bantamweights