Akira Kokubo

43rd PHOENIX BATTLE place on April 16, 2013, at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, promoted by Ohashi Promotions. This professional boxing match, Inoue’s third pro fight, features the 19-year-old prospect Naoya Inoue (2-0, 2 KOs) facing former Japanese title challenger Yuki Sano (17-2-4, 12 KOs) in a 10-round light flyweight bout. Inoue enters fresh off a first-round knockout of Ngaoprajan Chuwatana, while Sano comes from a TKO win over Kitirat Kheawsawai in 2012. The undercard includes bouts like Shuji Hamada vs. Yuta Saito and Ryo Matsumoto vs. Yoshinori Koto. It’s an early showcase of Inoue’s rising star power.