Inoue vs Nasukawa Rematch Tops Quadruple World Title Card in Tokyo This Weekend
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- Teiken Promotions menggelar empat pertarungan gelar dunia dalam satu malam di Toyota Arena, Tokyo, Minggu (23/3), dengan laga utama Takuma Inoue vs Tenshin Nasukawa.
- Dua petinju Filipina dan satu petinju Australia menjadi penantang di kartu tersebut, menandai penetrasi pasar Asia-Pasifik dalam industri tinju Jepang.
- Bagi Indonesia, gelaran ini menjadi tolok ukur bagaimana promosi lintas negara di kawasan dapat mendorong pertumbuhan ekosistem tinju profesional domestik.
Japan is once again the center of the boxing world's attention this weekend. Teiken Promotions, the promoter owned by Akihiko Honda, is staging four world title fights in one night at Toyota Arena, Tokyo, on Sunday (23/3), with the main event pitting WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue against top contender Tenshin Nasukawa in a long-awaited rematch.
Inoue (22-2, 5 KO) comes in on the back of a spectacular win over four-division legend Kazuto Inoue in his previous outing. Nasukawa (8-1, 3 KO), meanwhile, impressed after stopping veteran Mexican boxer Juan Estrada. This rematch is the real test for Nasukawa, previously better known as a kickboxing star, to prove himself at the professional boxing level.
Besides the main event, the Teiken card features three other title fights. At 122 pounds, Ryosuke Nishida (11-1, 2 KO) will face Australian boxer Sam Goodman (22-1, 8 KO) for the interim IBF belt. Tomoya Tsuboi (3-0-1NC, 2 KO), a world championship gold medalist, will take on Ricardo Malajika (17-2, 12 KO) of South Africa for the vacant WBC super flyweight belt. Finally, Ryusei Matsumoto (8-0, 4 KO) will duel Mexico's Russell Acosta (17-0, 6 KO) for the interim WBO minimumweight title.
Earlier, on Saturday (22/3), IBF 108-pound champion Thanongsak Simsri (40-1, 35 KO) will defend his belt for the second time against Japan-based Filipino boxer Mark Vicelles (21-2-1, 11 KO) in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture. This fight opens a packed week of Japanese boxing.
From an industry perspective, the event underscores Japan's position as a hub for world-class boxing promotion in Asia. The presence of boxers from the Philippines, Australia, South Africa, and Mexico shows that Teiken Promotions is not only relying on local talent but also building an international network that strengthens its commercial and competitive appeal. This differs from several years ago, when Japanese boxing cards featured mostly domestic boxers.
"We look forward to their hot action with great interest," the organizers said in their official release, reflecting high enthusiasm for this card.
For Indonesia, this event can serve as a mirror of how cross-border promotion in the region can drive the growth of the professional boxing ecosystem. Although Indonesia has a number of talented boxers, international stages are still rarely held in the country. Cooperation with regional promoters and the staging of joint cards can be a path to increasing national boxers' ring time and exposure.
With four world titles at stake over two days, this weekend will test Japan's dominance in Asian boxing. Will Teiken Promotions produce new champions again, or will challengers from abroad steal the spotlight? The answer will be seen in the rings of Tokyo and Shizuoka.
