Korean challenger Ye Joon Kim is a huge underdog as he steps in as a late replacement to take on the pound-for-pound phenomenon Naoya Inoue.

The new year has a growing number of events set for the first few months. Many of the sport's biggest names already have fights on the 2025 calendar, including several members of the pound-for-pound elite.

Local fighters look to impress in Japan on the Naoya Inoue vs. Ye Joon Kim undercard. Here's a breakdown of all the action on the Inoue vs. Kim card.

Over time, Naoya Inoue's fights have turned into must-see bouts that the "Monster" often turns into additions of his already-electric highlight reel.

Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) will defend his WBC/WBO/IBF/WBA super bantamweight title against the late replacement Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs).

No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer by The Ring and undisputed super bantamweight champion of the world, Naoye Inoue of Japan, makes the third defense of his 122-pound titles when he takes on South Korean Ye Joon Kim at his beloved Ariake Arena in Tokyo,

On Friday, January 24, undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) will return to action and face late replacement Ye Joon Kim (21-2-2, 13 KOs).

The bout will mark the third undisputed title defense for Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs). In May 2024, the 31-year-old knocked out Luis Nery with 50,000-plus in attendance at a sold-out Tokyo Dome. Inoue then retained his four 122-pound belts in September with a seventh-round TKO of TJ Doheny.