WBO super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue is confident of an emphatic third title defense when he faces top-ranked challenger Petchbarngborn Kokietgym on Sunday.
Inoue, 23, is 10-0 with eight knockouts so far in his career and is keen to add to that number when he faces the 31-year-old from Thailand at Sky Arena in Zama, Kanagawa Prefecture.
"I'm calm as always. I'm conscious about the knockout as I'm a professional," Inoue said Friday at the bout's signing ceremony. "I'll go for it when the right moment comes."
Kokietgym, fighting his first world title bout, said, "It's a hugely important bout. I'd like to do everything I can."
Kokietgym has a 38-7-1 record with 18 knockouts.