Kim was brave but ultimately outgunned by the incredible Japanese star inside the Ariake Arena, defending his world junior featherweight championship with a typically explosive display.
Kim dropped to 21-3-2 (13 KOs) and became the 29th notch on Inoue’s record, having deputized at short notice for Sam Goodman, who twice withdrew with a cut eye.
“I’m so exceptionally proud of the kid, from the moment we got the call 13-and-a-half days out he was an absolute consummate professional,” said Australian fight manager Mike Altamura. “He focused himself, he gave his absolute all in every part of the preparation. He mentally was on point, he understood the assignment, he made the sacrifices, and it just wasn’t his night.
“But I think he showed to a lot of people around the world that he is a world-class fighter, and with more notice to actually prepare for any of the elite fighters… We’re talking with Inoue an incredible talent… But I think with any, say, top 10 or 15 fighters in the world, respectively, I think if we have six, eight weeks’ notice, you’ll see a massive difference in his performance. But I thought that he fought a terrific fight. He gave his absolute all. He didn’t die wondering. He took his chances when they presented themselves. He let his hands go. He endeavoured to bring the fight to Inoue, and even though we were beat tonight, we’re not defeated. We will come again. We will rest, replenish, reload and we see where the dust is going to settle.”
In the aftermath of scalping Kim, Inoue’s plans were reeled off. First, he will fight in the USA, and later in the year in Saudi Arabia. While Kim’s future is neither as bright nor as lucrative, there should be more opportunities resulting from his brave effort.
“Mr [Akihiko] Honda was very content with the spirit and the fighting heart than Joon displayed,” added Altamura. “And he said that he would love to promote Joon’s fights in future in Japan, have us back for more opportunities.”
The idea immediately is to get Kim some rest, maybe a comeback fight and then see if there are any big fights he can have.
Altamura believes the world remains Inoue’s oyster, should he wish to go as high as 130lbs. Altamura has been in the opposite corner the last two Inoue fights, with TJ Doheny and now Kim. He was also ringside the night Inoue stopped Luis Nery last May, when Doheny fought on the undercard.
“Having been in the opposite corner the last two fights, it just confirms what I’ve believed a long time, which is that he’s an exceptional talent, he’s a generational talent,” said Altamura. “He’s an extremely intelligent fighter who can adjust on the fly and can adjust his style to what’s presented to him, whether it’s shifting backwards or whether it’s coming forward. I don’t think he’s a massive, massive one-punch knockout artist at 122, but he’s just so exceptionally gifted with his speed, timing and his ring IQ is up there with all the great fighters throughout history.
“I think that he maybe undersized at 122, but class is permanent and I think that with fighters like him, if he picks his spots right, he can go all the way up to 130lbs. I think he’s got the tools and the skills like the great fighters of the ilk of Manny Pacquiao, like Floyd Mayweather, you look at the greatest fighters ever, they were able to give up a little bit of size and weight and reach and so forth, and overcome those with the intangibles that they have with regards to ring intelligence and savvy. I believe his ceiling will probably be 130, but I look forward to seeing what he’s going to be accomplishing in these years to come.”
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