Inoue vs Butler LIVE: Result and reaction as ‘Monster’ secures late TKO
Relive round-by-round updates as Naoya Inoue stopped Paul Butler in Japan to become undisputed bantamweight champion
The Independent’s pound-for-pound No 1 boxer Naoya Inoue became undisputed bantamweight champion on Tuesday, stopping Paul Butler in the 11th round.
Japan’s Inoue had the home advantage at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, and he showed speed and power advantages from the early moments of the contest.
Inoue, 29, toyed with Butler, 34, before stopping the Briton with a hook to the body and a flurry of headshots in the penultimate round.
In doing so, the “Monster” stayed unbeaten and added Butler’s WBO title to his IBF, WBA and WBC belts. Next up, according to Inoue, will be a move to super-bantamweight.
Relive all the action with our blog below:
Inoue vs Butler
Full right report:
Naoya Inoue toys with Paul Butler to become undisputed bantamweight champion
The Japanese fighter stopped his British opponent in the 11th round in Tokyo
Inoue vs Butler
Inoue vs Butler
Inoue says he’s “really satisfied” to have gotten more rounds in than usual.
Inoue vs Butler
Inoue says he will fight at super-bantamweight next.
Inoue vs Butler
Naoya Inoue def. Paul Butler via 11th-round TKO (1:09).
Inoue vs Butler
Round 11
Into the championship rounds. Inoue gets on the front foot right away.
The crowd gets a clap going as Inoue tees off to the body of Butler.
He backs up the Briton with straight headshots. A brutal right hook to the body is followed by a flurry to the head, and Butler finally goes down!!
He covers up, crouches, then drops to the mat. He lies flat on his front, and the referee waves it off!!
Inoue stops Butler!
Inoue vs Butler
Round 10
Butler has done well to survive, but that’s been his main intention, it almost seems.
Inoue peppers him with head shots then hurls a left hook into the ribs. Terrific stuff.
This time it’s a one-two to the head, then a hook to the body.
Butler now targets the body, but Inoue is unfazed. He backs up Butler once again and starts to land right straights.
More body work by Inoue, whose conditioning is on point.
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