Japan’s Naoya Inoue (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Naoya Inoue is arguably the best fighter on the planet, so no matter when or where he fights, boxing fans should – and do – have some level of interest.
As is usually the case, Inoue’s upcoming fight will require American boxing fans to stay up very late or wake up very early to watch. monster in action.
Inoue will defend his litany of titles against Ye Joon Kim, and here’s how you can watch it:
- Date: Friday, January 24, 2025
- Online Titles: Ring, IBF, WBC and WBO junior featherweight championships
- Location: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JP
- Time: 02:00 (ET)
- TV/Broadcast: ESPN+
Inoue’s original opponent for the bout was supposed to be Sam Goodman, but the 26-year-old unbeaten Australian pulled out of the card twice due to serious injuries sustained in sparring, which was reopened after the original date was pushed back to January. 24.
TOPSHOT – Japan’s Naoya Inoue poses for a photo during a press conference after defeating the British … [+]
With Inoue and his camp unable to reschedule again, moves were made to give the Japanese superstar a new opponent.
Kim was the chosen man and the fight represents the opportunity of a lifetime for the 32-year-old South Korean.
If we’re being honest, almost nobody is giving Kim a chance to win. In fact, Kim is listed as a +1,400 big underdog heading into the fight, while Inoue is an incredible -5,000 favorite.
This means you have to bet $5,000 to win $100 if you put your money on Inoue. If you bet $100 on Kim and he pulls off this incredible upset, you’ll win $1,400 for a total payout of $1,500.
Take a look at the highlights from Kim below, and when you see his lack of hand speed, you’ll understand part of why Inoue is such a heavy favorite.
Boxing is a crazy sport where the unthinkable can happen. Look no further than a month ago, in December 2024, when Bruno Surace entered his fight with Jaime Munguia as a +1200 underdog to shock the mighty Mexican slugger in his hometown of Tijuana.
As boring as Surace’s KO win over Munguia was, a Kim win over Inoue would be even bigger. In any case, be on the lookout for post-fight coverage early Friday morning.
Here’s a look at the next set of boxing main events coming up, through March, starting after Inoue-Kim.
Boxing Schedule 2025
Saturday, January 25, 2025
European title: Dalton Smith vs Walid Ouizza
- Location: Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, GB
- Time: Noon (ET)
Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson
Ernesto Mercado vs. Jose Pedraza
Andy Cruz vs. Omar Salcido Gamez
- Location: The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, USA
- Time: 7:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets
- Venue: OVO Wembley Arena, London, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
David Benavidez vs. David Morrell
Brandon Figueroa vs. Stephen Fulton
Alejandro Ramos Jr. vs. Jeison Rosario
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz vs. Angel Fierro
- Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, February 2, 2025
WBO World Heavyweight Championship: Claressa Shields vs. Danielle Perkins
- Location: Dort Federal Event Center, Flint, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Dereck Chisora ââvs. Otto Wallin
- Location: Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, GB
- Time: 2:00 PM (ET)
Friday, February 14, 2025
WBO World Lightweight Championship: (c) Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer
Vito Mielnicki vs. Connor Coyle
Jared Anderson vs. Marios Kollias
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes
- Location: The Theater at MSG, New York City, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza
- Location: Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, GB
- Time: Noon (ET)
Oscar Duarte vs. Regis Prograis
- Honda Center, Anaheim, California, United States
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 22, 2025
Ring, WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight championships: (c) Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol
IBF Heavyweight Championship: (c) Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker
WBC Lightweight Championship (c) Shakur Stevenson vs. Floyd Schofield
WBC Middleweight Championship (c) Carlos Adames vs. Hamzah Sheeraz
Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Israil Madrimov
Joshua Buatsi v Callum Smith
Zhilei Zhang vs. Agit Kabayel
- Location: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, SA
- Time: Noon (ET)
Monday, February 24, 2025
WBC World Bantamweight Championship: (c) Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar Contreras
- Location: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JP
- Time: 2:00 a.m. (ET)
Saturday, March 1, 2025
WBA World Lightweight Championship: (c) Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr.
- Location: Barclays Center, New York City, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Friday, March 7, 2025
- Ring Lightweight Championship: (c) Natasha Jonas vs. Lauren Price
- Location: Royal Albert Hall, London, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, March 15, 2025
WBA World Bantamweight Championship: (c) Nick Ball vs. TJ Doheny
- Venue: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Callum Walsh v Dean Sutherland
- Location: The Theater at MSG, New York City, USA
- Time: 9:00 PM (ET)