The boxing world is in shock! Naoya Inoue, the unbeatable Japanese “Monster” and undisputed super bantamweight champion, has been devastatingly defeated by Britain’s Nick Ball in a fight that left fans speechless and on the edge of their seats. In a shocking twist, Ball, known for his ferocity and power, ended Inoue’s reign in the second round, marking the first defeat of the Japanese boxer’s career and unleashing a whirlwind of controversy in the boxing world.
The fight, held at Tokyo’s iconic Ariake Arena, pitted Inoue (27-1, 24 KOs), who was defending his WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF 122-pound titles, against Nick Ball (20-1-1, 12 KOs), a challenger many underestimated due to his lack of experience in high-caliber fights. However, Ball, nicknamed “The Destroyer” for his aggressive style, proved he was not there to be a simple stepping stone in Inoue’s career. From the first round, Ball stunned the crowd by landing a brutal combination of hooks to the body that staggered Inoue, something few believed possible.
The decisive moment came in the second round, when Ball threw a devastating uppercut that left Inoue reeling. Giving him no time to recover, Ball followed with a flurry of punches, culminating in a right hand that sent the Japanese fighter to the canvas for the first time in his professional career. The referee stopped the fight at 2:45 of the second round, declaring Ball the new super bantamweight world champion and unleashing a mixture of gasps and tears from the 15,000 fans in attendance. “I didn’t give him any time to react! I knew I had to go all out from the start,” Ball exclaimed in the post-fight interview, holding up Inoue’s belts with a defiant smile.
The knockout video has gone viral on social media, racking up over 30 million views on X, with the hashtags #BallVsInoue and #InoueWithoutTime trending worldwide with over 4 million mentions. Fans are divided, with some praising Ball as an “unexpected hero” who ended Inoue’s dominance, while others are questioning the referee’s decision, claiming the fight was stopped too early. “This is a disgrace to boxing! Inoue deserved more time to recover,” wrote one user on X, while another defended Ball: “Nick Ball is a beast! Inoue didn’t stand a chance—this isn’t robbery, it’s justice!”
The defeat has generated explosive reactions from leading boxing figures. Legendary Manny Pacquiao, who watched the fight from ringside, expressed his disbelief: “I never thought I would see Inoue go down like that. Ball has incredible power, but I think the referee was hasty.” Meanwhile, former featherweight champion Josh Warrington congratulated Ball on X: “Nick Ball just made history! Nobody believed he could beat Inoue, but he did it in style. Total respect!” Meanwhile, some rumors suggest that Inoue is considering retirement following the humiliating defeat, with sources close to the Japanese fighter stating that “he is an emotional wreck and doesn’t know if he can get back in the ring after this.”
Nick Ball, now the new king of 122 pounds, wasted no time in issuing a challenge to other boxing greats. “I’m the best in the world now! Let Marlon Tapales, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, or even a lightweight like Gervonta Davis come—I’ll destroy them all,” Ball proclaimed, as the crowd roared with cheers. However, some experts believe Inoue will demand an immediate rematch, and there is already talk of a possible showdown in Las Vegas in late 2025 to settle this explosive rivalry.
This fight has changed the landscape of boxing forever, leaving fans with more questions than answers. Is this the end of the Naoya Inoue era, or will he return stronger than ever? Can Nick Ball maintain his reign in the face of the challenges ahead? The boxing world is ablaze with this news, and we can’t wait to see what’s next! What do you think of this historic fight? Leave us your comments right now!