Related topics

Undefeated Inoue moving up to super bantamweight

January 13, 2023 GMT
1 of 2
Naoya Inoue of Japan poses with his championship belts during a press conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. Inoue said Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, he will give up his four bantamweight belts and will fight as a super bantamweight. Inoue is undefeated and holds the title belts for the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBA. (Kyodo News via AP)
1 of 2
Naoya Inoue of Japan poses with his championship belts during a press conference in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. Inoue said Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, he will give up his four bantamweight belts and will fight as a super bantamweight. Inoue is undefeated and holds the title belts for the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBA. (Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue is giving up his four bantamweight belts and plans to fight as a super bantamweight.

The undefeated Inoue holds the title belts for the WBA, WBO, IBF and WBA. He made the announcement at a news conference in Yokohama, Japan, on Friday.

“The real battle starts from here,” Japan’s Kyodo news agency quoted Inoue as saying. “I am very excited.”

Inoue, who turns 30 in April, has also won championships fighting at lighter weights.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports