Phenom Naoya Inoue, nicknamed "the Monster" for his unparalleled talent and considered the next big thing in Japanese professional boxing, took his first step toward greatness on Sunday night.
The 20-year-old defeated champion Adrian Hernandez of Mexico with a sixth-round technical knockout and became the new WBC light flyweight champion at Ota City General Gymnasium.
Inoue needed only six professional bouts to earn the title, the fewest number for a Japanese boxer to win a world championship. Previously, Kazuto Ioka, the current WBA light flyweight champ, earned his first belt (WBC minimumweight) in his seventh fight.