Japan’s Naoya Inoue (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
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 normally the case, Inoue’s upcoming fight will require American boxing fans to stay up really late or wake up very early to watch The Monster in action.
Inoue will defend his litany of titles against Ye Joon Kim, and here’s how you can watch:
- Date: Friday, January 24, 2025
- Titles on the Line: The Ring, IBF, WBC, and WBO Junior Featherweight Championship
- Location: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JP
- Time: 2:00 AM (ET)
- TV/Stream: ESPN+
Inoue’s original opponent for the fight was supposed to be Sam Goodman, but the undefeated 26-year-old from Australia was pulled from the card twice due to severe lacerations suffered in sparring, which re-opened after the initial date was pushed back to January 24.
TOPSHOT – Japans Naoya Inoue poses for a photograph during a press conference after beating Britains … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
With Inoue and his camp unable to reschedule again, moves were made to get the Japanese superstar a new opponent.
Kim was the man selected, and the fight represents the opportunity of a lifetime for the 32-year-old South Korean.
If we’re being honest, almost no one is giving Kim a chance to win. In fact, Kim is listed as a massive +1400 underdog heading into the fight, while Inoue is an unbelievable -5000 favorite.
That means you’d have to bet $5000 to make $100 if you put your money on Inoue. If you bet $100 on Kim and he pulls off the remarkable upset, you’d win $1400 for a total payout of $1500.
Take a look at the highlights from Kim below, and when you see his lack of hand speed, you’ll understand part of the reason Inoue is such a huge favorite.
Boxing is a crazy sport where the unthinkable can happen. Look no further than a month ago, in December 2024, when Bruno Surace came into his fight with Jaime Munguia as a +1200 underdog to shock the powerful Mexican slugger in his hometown of Tijuana.
As big of an upset as Surace’s KO win over Munguia was, a win by Kim over Inoue would be even bigger. In any case, be on the lookout for post-fight coverage early on Friday morning.
Here is a look at the next set of major boxing events coming up, all the way to March, beginning 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, US
- Time: 7:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets
- Location: 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, US
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, February 2, 2025
WBO World Heavyweight Championship: Claressa Shields vs. Danielle Perkins
- Location: Dort Federal Event Center, Flint, US
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Dereck Chisora vs. 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, US
- 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, US
- Time: 8 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 22, 2025
The Ring, WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF Light Heavyweight Championship: (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 vs. 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 AM (ET)
Saturday, March 1, 2025
WBA World Lightweight Championship: (c) Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr.
- Location: Barclays Center, New York City, US
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Friday, March 7, 2025
- The Ring Welterweight Championship: (c) Natasha Jonas vs. Lauren Price
- Location: Royal Albert Hall, London, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, March 15, 2025
WBA World Featherweight Championship: (c) Nick Ball vs. TJ Doheny
- Location: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Callum Walsh vs. Dean Sutherland
- Location: The Theater at MSG, New York City, US
- Time: 9:00 PM (ET)