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Philippines, 31 Jan 2026 |
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Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt By Teodoro Medina Reynoso PhilBoxing.com Wed, 26 Nov 2025  Takuma Inoue took the first step in restoring Japan's domination of the bantamweight division by winning the vacant WBC world title via unanimous decision over fellow Japanese Tenshin Nasukawa Monday night. Takuma is currently the lone Japanese world titlist at 118 lbs following the decision of former unified champion Junto Nakatani to vacate his WBC and IBF belts to campaign at super bantamweight where another Japanese Naoya Inoue is the undisputed world champion. The IBF has yet to announce who will contest to fill its vacant title though Ryusei Nishida from whom Nakatani wrested the IBF title could be one of the contenders The other world titles are held by Antonio Vargas and Christian Medina, both Mexicans. Vargas was elevated as WBA regular champion following Seiya Tsutsumi's going on medical leave due to various injuries incurred in previous defenses. Tsutsumi is reportedly linked to a fight versus Filipino interim titlist Nonito Donaire for the WBA super championship if WBA would sanction the bout before the end of the year. Medina meanwhile wrested the WBO crown via 4th round stoppage over former defending champion Yoshiki Takei last September. Another Japanese, ex flyweight champion Daigo Higa is a strong contender for the WBO belt if given the chance. Given these prospects, the major belts at bantamweight could soon return to Japanese fighters. But for the time being, it is Takuma who is the only Japanese world bantamweight titlist. Though he beat a fellow Japanese for the WBC crown, the fight was highly competitive. And Nasukawa, though comparatively inexperienced, proved to be a game and very tough competitor showing many of the qualities that once made him an undefeated world champion in mixed martial arts, the same sorts that prompted retired American boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr to choose him as opponent in one of his exhibition boxing bouts a few years back. Since turning to professional boxing, Nasukawa has remained unbeaten with seven wins including two by knockout until this recent meeting with Takuma Inoue. Nasukawa in fact threatened Takuma with his power in the first two rounds. But Takuma was able to slow him down with some body punching. From there, Takuma took control of the fight but had to weather Nasukawa's last ditch attempts in the final two round. Judges scores were 116-112 ×2 and 117-111 all in favor of Takuma Takuma succeeded in his second attempt at the WBC crown, the first a points loss to French Nordine Oubaali in early 2019. He became WBA titlist by outpointing Liborio Solis in 2023 but after two successful title defenses against ex long time super flyweight titlist Jerwin Anncajas and Sho Isshida both via TKO, he lost it by decision to Tsutsumi in late 2024. The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.  |
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