Masayuki Itō vs. Evgeny Alexandrovich Chuprakov & Kenshiro Teraji vs. Saúl Juárez Gil RBR

Inoue working nice slingshot pull-counter 1-2s flying over the lunging shots of Salapat, already swelling his eye tissue on either side. Instead of headhunting Salapat tries falling in, crashing against Inoue and thumping body shots with either hand, but Inoue keeps scoring with blistering check hooks on the face after pushing off.

20-18 Inoue

 

Tasana Sala-padded record.

 

Round 3

Inoue countering incredibly well ducking Salapat's right jabs (and occasional telegraphed hooks off the jab) and coming up at the parabolic terminus with a sharp left hook of his own. Salapat is charging in, keeping his right toe just inside the lead foot of Inoue, spearing into his face with the outstretched right arm, sometimes retracting it halfway to snap a southpaw jab or folding it up to fire short upper-hooks, but Inoue's footwork is like melted butter and Salapat can never gain purchase, always lined up perfectly for counters but unable to land consistently in multiples.

10-9 Inoue

30-27 Inoue

 

Round 4

Knockdown in the opening moments after the bell? - nope, slip. Canvas might be wet. Inoue starting to get hit with some more body shots but still in control, using quick upper-body leans deeply to either side to keep Salapat thrown off his rhythm and countering with his own body shots, jabs, and short right uppercuts on the point of the chin. Salapat is applying constant pressure and using a bit of strong-arming with some dirty tactics strewn in, banging his forearms and elbows into the chest of Inoue.

10-9 Inoue, closer

40-36 Inoue

 

WBC Open Scoring after four:

39-37
39-37
39-37

all for Inoue

 

Round 5

Inoue landing a picture-perfect counter 1-2 across the lazy right jab of Salapat. The volume is favoring the Siamese challenger, who is actually grinding quite a bit of leather into the flanks of Inoue, but the sharper and prettier combination punching is a landslide for the Kanagawa native. Just enough of the latter to maintain an edge, IMO.

10-9 Inoue

50-45 Inoue

 

Round 6

Salapat is all over Inoue, lumping up his sides with body shots. Inoue flicks out counter jabs and lead superman rights diving in beneath the southpaw jab, but is coming unglued and seems discomfited by the nonstop pressure. Salapat is always there, always whacking away downstairs. Inoue has no breathing room and his punches' aim is loosening up as his anxiety ratchets. Salapat raises his arms triumphantly at the bell, knowing he probably just nicked his first clear frame all night, while Inoue marches to his corner looking a bit dejected, eyes downcast.

10-9 Salapat

59-55 Inoue

 

Round 7

Inoue is carrying his left glove low when he gets some distance, recharging his batteries when he can get a moment to do so, largely assuming defensive maneuvers, in full retreat mode. Salapat is drowning him in pressure, sallying in behind a fully extended jouster's lance of a right jab and then wailing on the body inside for as long as he can until Inoue wriggles free and lopes off behind straight go-away flicks.

10-9 Salapat

68-65 Inoue

 

Interesting fight, looked a total mismatch in the first three or four, but has tightened up as Inoue's gas tank starts to deplete. Salapat was playing the long game, it turns out...