December 29: This Day in Boxing History — A Pivotal Night in Tokyo

December 29: This Day in Boxing History — A Pivotal Night in Tokyo

On December 29, 2015, the boxing world converged on Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum for a card that threaded together established champions and rising talents. Across multiple divisions, world titles were defended and won, and young contenders took steps that would shape their careers in the years to follow. The outcomes that night, from quick stoppages to hard-earned decisions, reflect a snapshot of global boxing in a moment of transition and burgeoning international influence.

Naoya Inoue vs. Warlito Parrenas

In the main event, Naoya Inoue, already a world champion by age 22, returned to the ring to defend his WBO super flyweight title in emphatic fashion. Inoue faced Warlito Parrenas of the Philippines on December 29, 2015, at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan. The fight lasted just into the second round, when Parrenas was dropped twice and deemed unable to continue, giving Inoue a second-round technical knockout at 1:20 of the second Round. With this victory, Inoue improved his record to 9–0 with 8 KOs and retained his WBO title.

Inoue had already established himself as one of Japan’s most accomplished young fighters. By the end of 2015 he had captured world championships in multiple weight classes and was building a reputation for devastating power and precision at 115 pounds.

Akira Yaegashi vs. Javier Mendoza

The same card featured another significant milestone when Akira Yaegashi captured the IBF junior flyweight world title with a convincing unanimous decision over Javier “Cobra” Mendoza in a 12-round bout. The judges scores of 120-107, 119-109, and 117-111 reflected a wide margin in his favor as he claimed his third world title across different weight divisions.

For Yaegashi, already a two-division world champion, the victory added another chapter to an accomplished career and joined him to a short list of Japanese boxers to claim world titles in three weight classes. This achievement underscored not only his resilience inside the ring but also the depth of his professional journey through lighter divisions.

Takuma Inoue vs. René Dacquel

Also on the December 29 card, Takuma Inoue, the younger brother of Naoya, continued his ascent in professional boxing. In a 12-round unanimous decision, Takuma defeated René Dacquel and improved his record while gaining valuable experience against a seasoned opponent. This bout marked an early benchmark in Takuma’s career, foreshadowing his rise in the competitive lower weight divisions.

Fighting on the same night as his brother’s world title defense, Takuma showcased a polished technical skill set and adaptability, key attributes that would become part of his later successes.

A Night of Significance in Boxing’s Global Landscape

Together, these fights reflected a moment when Japanese boxing (and the broader global scene) was beginning to assert greater presence on the world stage, with performances that resonated well beyond Tokyo.

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