Takeshi Inoue vs Thiranan Matsali Preview October 12th, 2023
Takeshi Inoue of Japan defends his WBO Asia Pacific Super Welterweight Title this Thursday, October 12th when he takes on unbeaten Thiranan Matsali of the Philippines. The 12-round fight from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo can be seen live on FITE TV with the card getting underway at 3am ET in North America. Inoue won the title as well as the vacant OPBF Crown when he stopped fellow countryman Ryosuke Tenyu Maruki in the sixth round last November and then defended it with a draw against Weljon Mindoro in May. Matsali last fought in July when he beat Wiwat Kongkan via an eight-round unanimous decision.
Inoue vs Matsali Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Thiranan Matsali +800
- Takeshi Inoue -1500
My Pick
The 33-year-old Inoue hails from Tokyo, and carries around a mark of 19-2-2 with 11 Ko’s. He turned pro in 2014 and has 154 rounds in the bank after reportedly going 39-16 as an amateur with 21 Ko’s. He stands 5-feet-8-inches with a 68-inch reach. The first pro loss on his record came at the hands of Jaime Munguia via a unanimous decision in January, 2019 in a shot at the WBO Super Welterweight crown. His second defeat was to Tim Tszyu in November, 2021 when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision in a shot at the WBO Global, and WBO Asia-Pacific Super Welterweight Belts.
Inoue’s first draw was a four-round affair which came in his pro debut against Daishi Nagata and then he drew with Mindoro in his last outing. Although they share the same last name, Inoue isn’t related to Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue and his brother Takuma Inoue. However, he has has won several regional and domestic titles including the Japanese, OPBF and WBO Asia Pacific Championships with wins over the likes of Yuki Nonaka, Akinori Watanabe, Koshinmaru Saito and Ratchasi Sithsainthong.
Inoue isn’t really know as a hard hitter with as 57.8 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s gone the distance in four of his past five fights. He doesn’t mind brawling as he’s physically strong for a small man and likes to get inside and eventually break the opposition down. He also takes good care of himself and always enters the ring in tremendous condition.
The 23-year-old Matsali climbs through the ropes with a record of 27-2 with 7 Ko’s and has boxed 184 rounds since making his pro debut in 2013 as a young teenager. He measures just 5-feet-2-inches tall with an unlisted reach, so gives up six inches in height to Inoue. He’s definitely not known for his power as just 25.9 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage with his last win by KO coming back in 2015.
Matsali’s first pro defeat came at the hands of Edison Berwela in 2018 when he was stopped in the sixth round in a shot at the vacant WBC Asian Bantamweight Title. He then fought for the vacant WBO Oriental Super Welterweight Belt last November and was stopped in the fifth round by Abdelelah Karroum. Since turning pro he has managed to win the vacant Asian, Asian Silver, WBC Asian Continental and IBF Pan Pacific Bantamweight Crowns as well as the WBC Asian Continental Light Flyweight Title.
He’s fought just once outside of his homeland and just 10 of his 29 opponents have entered the ring with a winning record. According to the record books, Matsali turned pro at the tender age of 13 and has fought all the way from the light flyweight to the junior middleweight division and will definitely be taking a step up in class this weekend.
Prediction…
Inoue proved how tough he is against Tzsyu and Munguia and needs to take charge against his young opponent right from the opening bell to make sure Matsali doesn’t gain confidence as the rounds go by. Inoue has displayed a solid chin up to now with decent power of his own and as long as he enters the ring in excellent shape again and lets his fists go he should be able to get past Matsali.
Inoue’s experience against upper-class opposition and his conditioning should be the difference.
Play Inoue -1500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Takeshi Inoue betting • Thiranan Matsali betting