Features
[JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Naoya Inoue Returns to the Ring with Laser-Sharp Focus
"I know in my mind what I need to do. [TJ] Doheny is a fighter who doesn't want to win by decision," Naoya Inoue said of his September 3 title fight in Tokyo.
Neither Naoya Inoue nor TJ Doheny has ever been knocked out in their professional boxing careers.
They have had a combined 53 fights, and their fistic showdown on Tuesday, September 3 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo appears destined to be a fight decided by big punches.
Let's take a quick look at the numbers. Inoue is 27-0 with 24 victories by stoppage. Doheny is 26-4 with 20 KOs.
What's more, neither man has fought a 12-round fight for years. It's a testament to Inoue's punching power and Doheny's formidable skills.
Inoue's last 12-rounder was on November 7, 2019, when he won a unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire to claim the Filipino's IBF bantamweight title at Saitama Super Arena.
Doheny, 37, last fought a 12-round bout on August 6, 2021, and he lost by unanimous decision to Michael Conlan in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Inoue is eyeing a knockout against Doheny. It's not a secret. The undisputed super bantamweight champion clearly spelled out his intentions in the run-up to the fight.
"To win this fight I have to concentrate and knock him out," the 31-year-old Inoue said, according to a published report on British broadcaster Sky Sports' website. "That's the only thing I keep in mind as I head into this fight. [And] that's what I'm visualizing now."
It should surprise no one that this is Inoue's intent. After all, Inoue has been one of the world's best boxers for years. Inoue has a lethal combination of speed and power in his punches and he blazed through the ranks, winning world titles at light flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight (the undisputed world champ) and super bantamweight (becoming undisputed champ again).
Naoya Inoue is Focused on 'What I Need to Do'
In Inoue's most recent fight, he overpowered Mexico's Luis Nery, winning via a sixth-round technical knockout at Tokyo Dome on May 6. Inoue was, however, knocked down for the first time in his pro career, which began in October 2012, in the first round. He survived and came back with a vengeance to retain his WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF titles.
For Inoue, after beating Nery, he's had a total commitment to training, preparing to face Doheny.
"I know in my mind what I need to do," Inoue said, according to Sky Sports. "Doheny is a fighter who doesn't want to win by decision. That's why I have to be careful."
Shingo Inoue, the superstar boxer's father and longtime trainer, said Naoya is well-prepared to do what it takes to extend his title reign.
"He will not let his guard down at all," Shingo Inoue was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. "As long as Naoya keeps his concentration, I don't think there will be any problem. We just have to be cool and calm and bring that to the fight. If we can do that, there will be no problems."
A Boxer with Lofty Standards
Naoya Inoue is approaching this fight with a determination to perform at his best.
"I take pride in defending my four championship belts, and I want to fight a bout that is up to my personal standards," he told a news conference on Saturday in Yokohama, Kyodo News reported.
An unblemished record and championship belts are on the line for "Monster" Inoue at Ariake Arena. But something else is also on his mind, an internal reminder of what he aims to achieve in the ring.
"I don't think I am the finished product yet, I still have some way to go," were words he used to explain his current mindset, according to Sky Sports.
Added Inoue, "I know I can still evolve into a better fighter. I hope the fans can look forward to that as well."
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- TJ Doheny Seeking to Conquer Super Bantamweight King Naoya Inoue
- Naoya Inoue Seeking a KO Victory Against TJ Doheny
Tennis
Osaka Exits US Open in 2nd Round
Naomi Osaka played stellar tennis in her first-round, straight-sets triumph over Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko on Tuesday, August 27 at the US Open in New York. Most notably, she had only five unforced errors in the 6-3, 6-2 win.
In her next match, two days later, Osaka was plagued by mistakes in a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) loss to world No 52 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Osaka, winner of the US Open women's singles title in 2018 and 2020, was frustrated with the result, which included dropping three set points in the second set.
"It's a little rough because I do take these losses really personally. [And] it's like a dramatic word, but I feel like my heart dies every time I lose," 88th-ranked Osaka said, according to BBC Sport. "I've been trying to be more mature and learn and talk more about them."
The four-time Grand Slam singles champion aims to win more titles, so the early exit from the US Open was a reminder that her performance level has not reached her ambitious target.
"It's been a little difficult because obviously I can only gauge how I'm doing by results," she said after the loss, according to Agence France-Presse. "I feel faster, I feel better, but I lost in the second round. So it's a little rough."
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Paris Paralympics
Swimmer Suzuki Claims Japan's 1st Gold of 2024 Games
Veteran swimmer Takayuki Suzuki, competing in his sixth Paralympic Games, captured the gold in the men's 50-meter breaststroke final in the SB3 category on Thursday, August 29 at Paris La Defense Arena. He had a winning time of 48.04 seconds.
Suzuki was born without a right leg, a shortened left leg and a right arm that doesn’t extend beyond his elbow. The 37-year-old swimmer was one of Japan's biggest success stories at the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021, earning five medals (one gold, two silver, two bronze).
After his first medal-winning feat in France, Suzuki expressed complete satisfaction with his performance.
"I swam the way I wanted to [and] I am very happy that all the hard work I did paid off," Suzuki was quoted as saying by The Yomiuri Shimbun.
As of 7:30 PM JST on Saturday, Japan had collected six medals (one gold, three silver, two bronze) at the Paris Paralympics. Check out the full medal table on Olympics.com.
The Paralympics, which began on August 28, wrap up on September 8.
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Baseball
Yamamoto Makes 1st Rehab Start for Triple-A Oklahoma City
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a solid outing in his first minor-league rehab start on Wednesday, August 28.
Yamamoto worked two innings for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club, the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, against the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers) in Round Rock, Texas. He allowed one hit and one run, struck out two and didn't walk a batter.
The veteran right-hander hasn't pitched for the parent club since June 15 due to a strained rotator cuff. He was moved to the 60-day injured list on July 15.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Yamamoto's start provided encouraging signs
"[He] threw well, came out of it good," Roberts was quoted as saying by The Associated Press in Los Angeles. "Hopefully, we can get him to three innings his next outing and then throw another one in the pen after that and then have a real conversation if it makes sense for him to join us."
Yamamoto, in his first season with the Dodgers after signing a blockbuster 12-year contract in the offseason, has a 6-2 record with a 2.92 ERA in 14 starts.
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Ohtani Shares the Spotlight with Beloved Dog Dekopin
Wednesday, August 28 was just another day at the office for Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani, a day to thrill baseball fans and do something (or multiple things) in a unique Ohtani-esque way.
Where shall we begin?
Dekopin, Ohtani's celebrity dog, was at Dodger Stadium for the National League West-leading club's game against the Baltimore Orioles. The Dutch Kooikerhondje delivered the ceremonial first pitch to Ohtani, who waited at home plate as Dekopin ran with the ball in his mouth from the pitcher's mound to home plate.
This unusual activity, in place of a regular ceremonial first pitch, delighted baseball fans at the ballpark and immediately became a hot topic on social media.
Ohtani later told reporters Dekopin, aka "Decoy," had trained for his pre-game task for three weeks.
"I think I was more nervous with the ceremonial pitch than Decoy," Ohtani said through an interpreter, according to NPR. He added, "I'm glad everything went well."
Ohtani belted his NL-leading 42nd home run, a leadoff blast in the bottom of the first inning. He finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, increasing his career-high total to 42.
The Dodgers defeated the Orioles 6-4, pleasing a famous dog owner and his legions of fans.
On Friday, Ohtani moved closer to his unprecedented target of 50 homers and 50 stolen bases. He belted his 43rd round-tripper and recorded his 43rd steal in a 10-9 road win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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Shuto Has Speed to Burn for the SoftBank Hawks
Veteran infielder/outfielder Ukyo Shuto of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks leads NPB with 37 steals (as of August 31).
Shuto was the Pacific League's stolen base leader in 2020 (50) and 2023 (36).
This season, he's also been caught stealing 11 times, a career-high number.
Soccer
Samurai Blue to Face China, Bahrain in World Cup Qualifiers
The Japan men's national soccer team is back in action on Thursday, September 5 against China as the final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway.
Kickoff is 7:35 PM at Saitama Stadium.
The Samurai Blue then travel to West Asia to face Bahrain in Riffa on September 10.
Japan, which had a 6-0 record in the second round of qualifiers, is grouped with Australia, Bahrain, China, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia for the third round.
Brighton and Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma is back on the national team squad for the first time since he had limited playing time in a pair of matches at the Asian Cup due to an injury in January in Qatar.
Samurai Blue boss Haijime Moriyasu has issued a challenge to his team to not overlook China and Bahrain. Instead, he wants his team to give its best effort in both matches.
"They will be tough games but we have to go into them with a winning mindset and prepare well for each one," Moriyasu said on Thursday at a news conference, according to Agence France-Presse. "We want to maximize our potential and give everything in these games."
Kawasaki Frontale defender Kota Takai, who turns 20 on September 4, has received his first call-up to the senior national team. Takai suited up for the U23 squad at the Paris Olympics.
Joining Takai as a first-time call-up is FC Machida Zelvia defender Henry Heroki Mochizuki, a 22-year-old rookie who has appeared in 17 matches for the J.League club in the 2024 season.
Rugby
Former All Blacks Head Coach to Lead Toyota Verblitz
Steve Hansen is the new head coach of Japan Rugby League One squad Toyota Verblitz.
An announcement was made by the Aichi Prefecture-based club on Friday, August 30.
The 65-year-old Hansen guided New Zealand from 2012-19 in his most recent top management post, leading the All Blacks to the 2015 Rugby World Cup title.
Hansen previously served as the Verblitz's director of rugby.
He coached Wales from 2002-04 before joining the All Blacks staff in 2004 as an assistant. Hansen served in that position until 2011.
Toyota is coming off a 9-7 season in 2023-24. That put the club in seventh place out of 12 teams in the final standings.
Ian Foster, Hansen's successor as All Blacks head coach (2020-23), joins Toyota as a co-coach, the team also announced.
In other rugby coaching news, Kosei Ono, 37, was named the new head coach of the Suntory Sungoliath on Thursday, August 29.
Ono previously served as an assistant coach for the Japan Rugby League One squad.
Former Sungoliath head coach Kiyonori Tanaka has switched jobs within the organization, becoming the team's new general manager.
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Horse Racing
Brazilian Moreira Wins World All-Star Jockeys Title
At Sapporo Racecourse, Jaoa Moreira claimed his second World All-Star Jockeys title on Sunday, August 25.
Moreira previously won the two-day competition in 2015.
This time, he accumulated the most points (64) in a quartet of races. Fourteen jockeys participated in the racing extravaganza, including seven foreign riders.
Moreira placed second in the opening leg (a 1,200-meter race) on Saturday, August 24 and eighth in the day's second World All-Star Jockeys race over 2,000 meters.
On Sunday, Moreira was fifth in the third leg (1,700 meters), then triumphed aboard Heart's Cry progeny Ezo Daimon in the fourth leg (1,800 meters) to seal the title. Ezo Daimon was clocked in 1 minute, 48 seconds and earned a one-length victory over Eglantyne, who was ridden by Ryusei Sakai.
Race winners of the first, second and third legs were Hong Kong-based jockey Karis Teetan, Christophe Lemaire and Yutaka Take, respectively.
"I was especially happy to be able to ride a great horse in the last leg," Moreira said.
He added, "I didn't have confidence, but I was ready to take on the challenge, and the horse gave a great performance. I'm very happy to be able to race with great jockeys from Japan and other countries, and I am grateful to the fans whose support gave me strength."
Take finished second in total points with 55. Sakai placed third with 51 points, Lemaire was fourth with 45 and Teetan fifth with 41.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.