Inoue stops Kurihara in the 9th round

By LITO DELOS REYES

Former world champion Takuma Inoue of Yokohama scored a technical decision in the 9th round over Keita Kurihara of Tokyo to win the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation bantamweight title last Jan. 14 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Inoue won against Kurihara who suffered bad bleeding caused by an accidental head butt at 2:25 of the 9th round.

The 25-year-old Inoue, who formerly won the interim World Boxing Council world bantamweight title against Tasana Salapat of Thailand in 2018, is the younger brother of Naoya “Monster” Inoue, reigning WBA super world and IBF world bantamweight champion.

Takuma improved to 14 wins with three knockouts against one loss while Kurihara, who was making his 2nd title defense, suffered his six setbacks against 15 wins.

It was promoted by Hideyuki Ohashi of Phoenix Promotions.

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