"Monster" Naoya Inoue unifies bantamweight division with dominant knockout victory over Paul Butler

He wanted it. He got it.  

Naoya Inoue unified the bantamweight division by scoring a one-sided 11th-round knockout over Paul Butler in Tokyo, Japan.

With the win, Inoue became the first fighter from Japan to capture all four belts in the modern era.

"I am honored to become undisputed champion at bantamweight," said Inoue. 

In the opening stanza, Butler jabbed and used lateral movement. Inoue, applying pressure, scored with a right and left. Inoue worked the body. As he would do the entire fight, Inoue continued to pressure Butler.

Butler, working behind a high guard, jabbed. Inoue opened up to the head and body.

Rounds three and four were more of the same. Butler used the ring while Inoue pressed and popped. He corned Buter and teed off. Butler absorbed the blows. Butler’s offense was non-existent. Inoue landed an overhand rights and left hooks to the gut.

Inoue jabbed consistently in rounds five and six. Butler fired a right that Inoue blocked. Inoue scored with lefts and slashing uppercuts. Butler clipped Inoue with a left. Inoue, with his hands at his side, went to the body and head.  

The second half of the fight was reminiscent of the first, with one notable difference. It wouldn’t go the distance.

50-1 favorite Inoue stalked; Butler moved. Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) dropped his arms at his side in round seven and beckoned Butler. His frustration was palpable. Inoue stopped Butler in his tracks with a hard right in round eight. Butler (34-3, 15 KOs) fought back a touch more. He was obviously feeling the power of the fighter nicknamed “The Monster.”

Inoue jumped on his toes before round 11 commenced. He looked like a fighter who wanted to end things. He bounced after Butler. Inoue opened up. Butler took em. Inoue scored with a big right to the head that hurt Butler. Inoue jumped on his stricken opponent and unloaded.

Butler collapsed.

Time 1:09 of round 11.