TOKYO, Feb 10 () - The Japanese Boxing Commission and the Sportswriters Club held their annual awards ceremony at the Tokyo Dome Hotel on Wednesday.
The showpiece award, the 2022 Japanese Fighter of the Year, went to bantamweight champion and pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue, who won the award for a fifth consecutive year and a record-breaking sixth time overall, surpassing Japanese greats Yoshio Shirai and Yoko Gushiken.
Inoue definitively stopped old rival Nonito Donaire in two rounds to claim the WBC bantamweight title and retain his Ring, IBF and WBA belts in June. “The Monster” then became the undisputed bantamweight champion by defeating WBO titlist Paul Butler in 11 rounds. ...continue reading