Takuma Inoue vs Seiya Tsutsumi Preview October 13th, 2024
WBA Bantamweight Champion Takuma Inoue of Japan defends his title for the second time when he takes on unbeaten fellow countryman Seiya Tsutsumi in Tokyo this Sunday, October 13th. The fight can be seen live in America at 4 am ET on ESPN+ while fans in the UK and Ireland can see it on Sky Sports + at 9 am. Inoue last fought in May when he beat Sho Ishida by unanimous decision. Inoue beat Liborio Solis of Venezuela by unanimous decision in April, 2023 to win the vacant belt and then stopped former IBF Jr. Bantamweight Champion Jerwin Ancajas in the ninth round with a body shot in his first defence and beat Ishida in his second. Tsutsumi last boxed in July when he stopped Weerawat Noolae in the fourth round.
Inoue vs Tsutsumi Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Seiya Tsutsumi +275
- Takuma Inoue – 375
My Pick
The 28-year-old Inoue is the younger brother Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue and owns a mark of 20-1 with 5 Ko’s and has 191 rounds of experience under his belt since turning pro in 2013 following an amateur career. He stands just over 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64-inch reach but possesses just a small fraction of his brother’s power though as only 25 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he’s halted just two of his last 10 opponents. Inoue has never fought a pro with a losing record and beat Mark Anthony Geraldo by unanimous decision in 2015 for the vacant OPBF Super Flyweight Title.
He defended that belt twice before moving up in weight. He then captured the WBC interim World Bantamweight Title in 2018 by beating Tasala Salapat by unanimous decision. Inoue’s lone defeat came by unanimous decision to Nordine Oubaali in a shot at the WBC Bantamweight Title in November, 2019 on the undercard of the first Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire fight. He’s also captured the Japanese and WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight Crowns as a pro.
Tsutsumi is also 28 years old and enters the ring with a near-perfect mark of 11-2 with 8 Ko’s and has boxed 78 rounds since making his pro debut in 2018. He measures just over 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 64.5-inch reach so is 1.5-inches taller than Inoue. As far as power is concerned. Tsutsumi has quite a bit more than the champion as 72.7 per cent of his victories have come by way of stoppage including four of his past six.
The two blemishes on his record were two consecutive draws back in 2020. He went 10 rounds with Kazuki Nakajima in January and nine months later was held by former world champion Daigo Higa. Tsutsumi won the Japanese Bantamweight Title in 2022 via an eighth-round TKO over Kyosuke Sawada and has defended the belt four times, twice by TKO and twice by unanimous decision.
Prediction…
Inoue appears to be a light puncher with just 5 Ko’s in his 21 fights but looked impressive against Ancajas a few months ago and surprised a lot of people by stopping him and also impressed against Ishida. Tsutsumi has a big advantage in power here but if Inoue can replicate his last two performances in the ring then he should retain his title on Sunday in a close contest.
Inoue’s improving with each fight.
Play: Inoue – 375 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Seiya Tsutsumi betting • Takuma Inoue betting