NORDINE OUBAALI DROPS TAKUMA INOUE, WINS BY UD TO KEEP WBC BANTAM TITLE IN JAPAN

Oubaali connects with a left at Inoue.

WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France retained his belt winning dropping Japanese challenger Takuma Inoue in the 3rd round en route to a unanimous decision victory on the main undercard of the Nonito Donaire Jnr vs Naoya Inoue WBSS finals WBA/IBF bantamweight unification bout at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan Thursday night. Judges scores: Alejandro Rochin 120-107, David Sutherland 117-110 and Jun Bae Lim 115-112 all in favor of Oubaali.

Oubaali's tactical pressure fighting and edge in the power departments and well as volume punches were to much for the Japanese challenger. Oubaali caught Inoue with a straight left to the head in the 3rd round that backs off Inoue to the ropes as the fight heats up. Moments later Oubaali followed it up with a hard right to the head.

In the fourth round, the lefty Oubaali dropped Inoue with a left cross that landed squarely at Inoue left cheek as Oubaali was in control of the contest the whole night and Inoue did not pose any danger to the champion untile the last minute of the 12th round when Inoue landed a hard right that momentarily staggered Oubaali but Inoue's rally came too little too late.

After the 8th round, Oubaali was leading on all the judges scorecards 77-74, 79-72 and 80-71.

Oubaali, 33, has now upped his undefeated record to 17 wins with 12 knockouts while Takuma Inoue, 23, dropped to 13 wins, one loss with three wins inside the distance.