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:
2026 NBA Finals: Knicks Rally from 29 Points Down to Steal Game 4 from Spurs 107-106
By Reylan Loberternos, Thu, 11 Jun 2026VARGAS: BEATING BAM MAKES ME ‘THE MAN’
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of June 20 Defense Against Philippines’ Joey Canoy
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Sanman 101 boxing event to push through in General Santos
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Panamanian female champ star Nataly Delgado ready to beat Artiga for WBA title in Orlando, Florida
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Pedro Veitia Eager to Separate Himself in Battle of Unbeaten Middleweight Prospects June 13 in Orlando
Thu, 11 Jun 2026Raga, Esquillo, Ortega, Navarrete, Santos, Ripay to compete in Japan 10-Ball Open
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Chess tournament goes to Dasmarinas Cavite
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 11 Jun 2026Roach Jr. vs. Zepeda Press Conference Quotes
Wed, 10 Jun 2026Steven Butler to face Edgar Berlanga on July 26 at the Infosys Theater of the Madison Square Garden in New York
Wed, 10 Jun 2026Nimal Farmer scores signature win over Michael Anderson at Prudential Center
Wed, 10 Jun 2026H2O EAGER TO MAKE STATEMENT AGAINST FORMER WORLD CHAMPION JOJO DIAZ IN HOMETOWN HEADLINER JUNE 19
Wed, 10 Jun 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 JUNE 2026: Ramirez SD Lerrone; Baumstarh SD Bustillos; Vazquez, Mindoro Win in Texas; Yabuki, Moloney, Casimero and Angeletti Win in Japan
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Jun 20262026 NBA Finals: Spurs Take Game 3, Beat Knicks in New York 115-111
By Reylan Loberternos, Tue, 09 Jun 2026Casimero still rocking
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 09 Jun 2026