Japanese boxer Takuma Inoue captured the WBA world bantamweight title, vacated by his older brother Naoya, by defeating Venezuelan Liborio Solis by unanimous decision of the judges on Saturday in Tokyo. Naoya “The Monster” Inoue had reunited the four world titles last December, a first in this category since 1972. He returned his four belts the following month by deciding to move up to the upper category of super-bantamweight.
Under the gaze of his older brother, present at ringside, Takuma, 27, opened above the left eye by an involuntary elbow from Solis in the 5th round, signed in twelve rounds against the Venezuelan veteran ( 41 years old) his 18th victory in 19 professional fights, including four before the limit. Naoya Inoue, 29, who has a record of 24 wins in 24 fights (21 before the limit), will try to win the WBC and WBO super bantamweight world titles in July against American world champion Stephen Fulton.