KOKI INOUE STOPS JHERITZ CHAVEZ IN SEVEN, WINS WBO ASIAPAC TITLE
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Dec 2019
TOKYO – Undefeated Japanese super lightweight prospect Koki Inoue knocked out Jheritz Chavez of the Philippines in the seventh round at the famed Korakuen Hall here Monday night to capture the WBO Asia-Pacific super lightweight belt in front of his cheering countrymen.
The 27-year-old Inoue (15-0-0, 12KOs) used his superior boxing skill to dominate Chavez (9-4-2, 7KOs) as long as the fight lasted. Chavez, 28, the reigning Philippine super lightweight champion, tried to pressure the lefty Inoue by going forward and timed him with his looping lefts and right straights but the Yokohama based Japanese deftly dodged Chavez's bullets and in return regularly connected with his own sharp right jabs and left counters.
Koki Inoue (L) neutralizes Jheritt Chavez's pressure.
Chavez (R) works on the body of Inoue.
In the 6th round Chavez, who continued to stalk Inoue, changed tactic by targeting Inoue's body where a right that hit its target appeared to hurt the Japanese. Chavez however failed to follow up as Inoue expertly boxed his way out of danger. In the fateful 7th round, Chavez again connected with a body shot that emboldened him to continue his attack inside but he got clipped by Inoue with a wicked left uppercut to the chin that sent Chavez sprawled to the canvas that abruptly ended the contest.
Inoue was ahead on all the judges scorecards after the 6th round, 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56. WBO vice president for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr supervised the contest.
Inoue flattens Chavez.
Inoue receives the WBO belt from WBO Vice-President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr. (R).
By winning the WBO Asia-Pacific title, Inoue will put himself in world rankings where Top Rank's Jose Ramirez holds the unified WBO/WBC belt.
In the featured undercard, undefeated Japanese Taku Kuwahara (7-0-0, 4KOs) cruised to a wide unanimous decision victory over Filipino Ricardo Sueno (10-4-4, 3KOs) in their 8-round flyweight bout with scores of 80-71, 80-71 and 79-72.
The featured WBO regional title fight coincides with the ongoing 32nd WBO Convention which will formally open tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. Another WBO regional title fight between WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight champion Joe Noynay of the Philippines and his Japanese challenger Kenichi Ogawa is slated on Saturday, Dec. 6, also at the Korakuen Hall which is part of the Tokyo Dome City entertainment complex.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Paciones fights Laspoña tomorrow at Elorde gym
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 May 2026STATEMENT MADE! AMARI “THE REAPER” JONES DEFEATS VINCENZO “IL CAPO” GUALTIERI IN IBF MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR
Sat, 23 May 2026Castillano stops Rosales in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 May 2026ProBoxTV Goes Global This Saturday with Two Action-Packed International Events Broadcast Live on One Sensational Saturday
Sat, 23 May 2026Oleksandr Usyk Returns Against Unknown Boxer on RING/DAZN PPV
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 23 May 2026Ayala Lardizabal stops Mama as IBA PRO 18 delivers dramatic night in Mexico City
Sat, 23 May 2026MF PRO Launches U.S. Boxing Debut with “Pugilist Revolution” Featuring "H2O" Sylve vs. Joseph “JoJo” Diaz in Southern California Showdown
Sat, 23 May 2026Dela Cerna fights Lastimosa on June 21 in Muntilupa
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 23 May 2026USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Posts Another Seven-Win Day in Colombia
Sat, 23 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Beat Cavaliers 109-93 Behind Hart’s Postseason Career-High 26 in East Finals
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 22 May 2026Rep. Barzaga invited in Bakbakan sa Putatan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 May 2026Weights Set from San Jose: Amari Jones and Vincenzo Gualtieri Cleared for IBF Middleweight Eliminator
Fri, 22 May 20262026 NBA Playoffs: Gilgeous-Alexander Back to MVP Form as Thunder Top Spurs 122-113 in West Game 2
By Reylan Loberternos, Fri, 22 May 2026IBA flag raised at the peak of Mount Everest following historic ascent
Fri, 22 May 2026Jacamos fights for vacant WBC Youth World junior fly in South Africa on May 23
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 22 May 2026