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:
Zuffa Boxing set to unveil its maiden card on January 23 in Las Vegas
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’ve got an army and army’s move in numbers’ Owen Corrigan returns for Light Heavyweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Sat, 10 Jan 2026Pasalamat Festival Chess Tour 2026 to Push Through
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 10 Jan 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS & TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO PRESENT CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - VERONA, NY
Sat, 10 Jan 2026ELIF TURHAN SIGNS NEW MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING – FIRST IBF WORLD TITLE DEFENCE DATE SET FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31
Sat, 10 Jan 2026Driving Philippine Tennis Forward: Jean Henri Lhuillier Champions the 2026 Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Tour
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 10 Jan 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’m ready to make some noise’ Billy Quinncroft returns for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
Fri, 09 Jan 2026Dableo and Laylo's Team to Compete in Bulacan
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 09 Jan 2026Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9
Fri, 09 Jan 2026Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 09 Jan 2026Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation
Fri, 09 Jan 2026IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media
Fri, 09 Jan 2026SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 09 Jan 2026Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 08 Jan 2026