Japan’s Naoya Inoue (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/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 usually the case, Inoue’s upcoming fight will require American boxing fans to stay up very late or wake up very early to watch The Beast 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/Streaming: ESPN+
Inoue’s original opponent for the fight was supposed to be Sam Goodman, but the unbeaten 26-year-old from Australia was pulled from the card twice due to serious injuries sustained in sparring, which was reopened after the original date was postponed to January. 24.
TOPSHOT – Japan’s Naoya Inoue poses for a photo during a press conference after beating the Brits … [+]
With Inoue and his camp unable to reschedule again, moves were made to get the Japanese superstar a new opponent.
Kim was the man chosen and the match represents the opportunity of a lifetime for the 32-year-old South Korean.
If we’re being honest, hardly anyone is giving Kim a chance to win. In fact, Kim is listed as a massive +1400 underdog heading into the fight, while Inoue is a whopping -5000 favorite.
This means you would have to bet $5000 to make $100 if you put your money on Inoue. If you bet $100 on Kim and he makes the remarkable upset, you’ll win $1400 for a total payout of $1500.
Check out 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 heavy favorite.
Boxing is a crazy sport where the unthinkable can happen. Look no further than a month ago, 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 Kim win over Inoue would be even bigger. Either way, be on the lookout for coverage after the game early Friday morning.
Here’s a look at the next set of major boxing events coming up through March, starting with 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, USA
- Time: 7:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Adam Azim vs. Sergey Lipinets
- Venue: 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, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, February 2, 2025
WBO World Heavyweight Championship: Claressa Shields vs. Daniel Perkins
- Location: Dort Federal Event Center, Flint, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Dereck Chisora vs. Otto Wallin
- Venue: Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, GB
- Time: 14:00 (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. Mario Kollia
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes
- Location: Theater at MSG, New York, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza
- Venue: Co-Op Live Arena, Manchester, GB
- Time: Noon (ET)
Oscar Duarte vs. Regis Prograis
- Honda Center, Anaheim, California, USA
- Time: 8 p.m. (ET)
Saturday, February 22, 2025
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, USA
- Time: 8:00 PM (ET)
Friday, March 7, 2025
- The Ring Heavyweight 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
- Venue: M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, GB
- Time: 1:00 PM (ET)
Sunday, March 16, 2025
Callum Walsh vs Dean Sutherland
- Location: Theater at MSG, New York, USA
- Time: 9:00 p.m. (ET)
