Takuma Inoue


Takuma Inoue is a Japanese professional boxer. He is a two-time bantamweight champion having held the World Boxing Council bantamweight title since November 2025, and previously the World Boxing Association bantamweight title from 2023 to 2024.

Professional career

Inoue started boxing from a very young age, after watching his brother Naoya win several high school championships. After a promising amateur career, he made his pro debut in 2013 as a light flyweight against future WBO minimumweight world champion Tatsuya Fukuhara. Inoue defeated the much more experienced boxer by unanimous decision. Inoue then moved up to the flyweight division and faced Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr., winning the fight by unanimous decision. After knocking out a debuting Chalerm Kotala, Inoue moved up to super flyweight and outclassed world title contender Nestor Daniel Narvaes.
Inoue defeated Mark Anthony Geraldo on July 6, 2015, to win the OPBF super flyweight title. He then successfully defended the belt against Rene Dacquel on December 29, 2015. On September 4, 2016, Inoue defeated Froilan Saludar at the Sky Arena in Japan, before moving up to bantamweight.
Inoue was set to face Marlon Tapales for the WBO bantamweight title in December 2016. However, Inoue was forced to withdraw from the fight after fracturing his hand in training.
Inoue made his return on August 30, 2017, against 4-time world title challenger Hiroyuki Kudaka. He won the back and forth fight by unanimous decision. Inoue then went on to defeat former Japanese champion Kentaro Masuda and Indonesian journeyman Waldo Sabu.
WBC Eliminator
On September 11, 2018, Inoue faced Mark John Yap in a title eliminator for the WBC Bantamweight world championship. The fight was fairly competitive until Inoue floored Yap with a left hook in the fifth. From there, Inoue maintained control for the next three rounds and earned a unanimous decision win.
WBC Interim Championship
Inoue faced Petch Sor Chitpattana for the vacant WBC interim bantamweight title on December 30, 2018, in Ota City General Gymnasium Japan. He won the fight by unanimous decision. As the interim champion, Inoue became the mandatory challenger to the winner of the vacant WBC world title fight between Rau'shee Warren and Nordine Oubaali.
WBC Bantamweight Championship
Nordine Oubaali vs Takuma Inoue
Inoue faced two time Olympian Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantamweight title on November 7, 2019. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, marking the first loss of his professional career.

Inoue vs. Kurihara

On January 14, 2021, Inoue beat Keita Kurihara by technical decision in their 9-round contest. Kurihara was ranked #4 by the IBF at bantamweight at the time. The scorecards were announced as 82–89, 82–89, 81–90 in favor of Inoue.

Inoue vs. Wake

In his next bout, Inoue beat Shingo Wake by unanimous decision on November 11, 2021. Wake was ranked #13 by the WBO at super bantamweight. The scorecards read 117–110, 117–110, 117–110 in favor of Inoue.

Inoue vs. Furuhashi

In his next bout, on June 7, 2022, Inoue fought Gakuya Furuhashi. Inoue won the fight convincingly, winning 119–109, 120–108, 120–108 on the scorecards.

Inoue vs. Bornea

Inoue faced Jake Bornea on December 13, 2022. The fight was stopped in the 8th round due to a cut opened up on Bornea, with Inoue dominating the action up to that point.

Inoue vs. Solis

Inoue faced former WBA super flyweight champion Liborio Solis for the vacant WBA bantamweight title on April 8, 2023. He won the fight and the title by unanimous decision.

Inoue vs. Ancajas

Inoue made his first WBA bantamweight title defense against former IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas. Inoue won the fight and retained his title by 9th round body-shot knockout.

Inoue vs. Ishida

Takuma Inoue defeated Sho Ishida via unanimous decision to retain his WBA bantamweight title on May 6, 2024. Despite being knocked down in the first round, Inoue recovered to dominate the fight, using a mix of uppercuts and body shots to outpoint the taller Ishida for the next 11 rounds.

Inoue vs. Tsutsumi

Inoue defended his WBA bantamweight title against Seiya Tsutsumi at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan on October 13, 2024. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Inoue vs. Nasukawa

Inoue faced Tenshin Nasukawa for the vacant WBC bantamweight title at Toyota Arena in Tokyo, Japan on November 24, 2025. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Awards

Inoue was named the 2015 The Ring magazine Prospect of the Year.

Personal life

He is the younger brother of Naoya Inoue, and the younger cousin of Koki Inoue.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
23Win21–2Tenshin NasukawaUD12Nov 24, 2025Toyota Arena, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant WBC bantamweight title
22Loss20–2Seiya TsutsumiUD12Oct 13, 2024Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JapanLost WBA bantamweight title
21Win20–1Shō IshidaUD12May 6, 2024Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA bantamweight title
20Win19–1Jerwin AncajasKO9, 0:44Feb 24, 2024Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBA bantamweight title
19Win18–1Liborio SolísUD12Apr 8, 2023Ariake Arena, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant WBA bantamweight title
18Win17–1Jake BorneaTKO8, 2:48Dec 13, 2022Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
17Win16–1Gakuya FuruhashiUD12Jun 7, 2022Super Arena, Saitama, JapanRetained WBO Asia Pacific super-bantamweight title;
Won Japanese super-bantamweight title
16Win15–1Shingo WakeUD12Nov 11, 2021Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant WBO Asia Pacific super-bantamweight title
15Win14–1Keita Kurihara9, 2:25Jan 14, 2021Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon OPBF bantamweight title
14Loss13–1Nordine OubaaliUD12Nov 7, 2019Super Arena, Saitama, JapanFor WBC bantamweight title
13Win13–0Petch Sor ChitpattanaUD12Dec 30, 2018Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant WBC interim bantamweight title
12Win12–0Mark John YapUD12Sep 11, 2018Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11Win11–0Waldo Sabu1, 2:14May 25, 2018Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
10Win10–0Kentaro MasudaUD10Dec 30, 2017Cultural Gymnasium, Yokohama, Japan
9Win9–0Hiroyuki HisatakaUD10Aug 30, 2017Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
8Win8–0Froilan SaludarUD10Sep 4, 2016Sky Arena, Zama, Japan
7Win7–0Afrizal Tamboresi2, 1:46May 8, 2016Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF super-flyweight title
6Win6–0Rene DacquelUD12Dec 29, 2015Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF super-flyweight title
5Win5–0Mark Anthony GeraldoUD12Jul 6, 2015Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant OPBF super-flyweight title
4Win4–0Nestor Daniel NarvaesUD8Dec 30, 2014Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
3Win3–0Chalerm Kotala2, 0:51Sep 5, 2014Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0Teeraphong UtaidaUD8Apr 6, 2014Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
1Win1–0Tatsuya Fukuhara6Dec 6, 2013Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan