WBO super flyweight champion and Japanese phenom Naoya Inoue had no problem safely extending his title defense streak to four, defeating ex-WBA champ and compatriot Kohei Kono with a sixth-round technical knockout in a year-end boxing show at Ariake Colosseum on Friday.
The 36-year-old Kono, who lost his title to Luis Concepcion of Panama in August, fought aggressively from the beginning. But Inoue kept his poise throughout the match with a hit-and-away strategy.
The champion landed a counter left about 40 seconds into the sixth round, from which Kono barely stood up. But Inoue finished it moments later as he rushed to Kono raining blows.