Yokohama played host to another ruthless display from the WBO super-flyweight champion as Naoya Inoue overpowered France’s Yoan Boyeaux in a blistering third-round stoppage. Entering the ring for the seventh defence of his crown, the unbeaten Japanese star carried the confidence of a man who had dismantled Antonio Nieves only months earlier, and he wasted no time reminding the crowd why his reputation continues to swell.

From the opening bell, Inoue established a frenetic tempo that Boyeaux struggled to tame. The champion’s trademark blend of forward pressure and razor-sharp timing once again set the tone. His punches arrived with an immediacy that left the Frenchman second-guessing every step. Attempting to retreat invited punishment; attempting to trade brought its own hazards. Inoue’s uncanny ability to shift from offence to reactive counterwork created a trap that Boyeaux found impossible to escape.

Late in the first round, the challenger experienced the full weight of Inoue’s intent. A whipping left hand caught him clean and forced him to the canvas. The bell denied the champion a swift finish, but the message had been delivered: Boyeaux was facing a man entirely comfortable controlling every inch of the ring.

The second round unfolded with the same unnerving pattern. Inoue stalked behind brisk jabs that snapped the Frenchman’s head back or thudded into his midriff. Each shot appeared to drain Boyeaux’s resistance, while Inoue remained composed, patient and utterly in command. The 4,000 spectators sensed the inevitable as the champion tightened his grip on proceedings, cutting the distance and investing heavily in attacks downstairs.

It was the third round, however, that sealed Boyeaux’s fate. Inoue drove a left hand into his opponent’s torso with such precision that Boyeaux instinctively stepped away before sinking to a knee. Rising bravely, the visitor tried to regain rhythm, but Inoue’s pursuit was merciless. Another cleanly-delivered body blow forced a second knockdown, and although Boyeaux again attempted to continue, the end was imminent.

The champion closed the show with a crisp trio of punches buried deep into the Frenchman’s midsection, sending him down for a third and final time. Referee Raul Caiz Jr rightly waved off the contest at 1:40 of the round, sparing Boyeaux from further damage and confirming another emphatic defence for the Japanese sensation. For Inoue, it was yet another reminder of the destructive force he carries in both hands, particularly when he decides to target the body with relentless accuracy.

A dominant performance from start to finish, this victory showcased the same kind of command that marked Inoue’s earlier triumphs and further strengthened the aura surrounding him. As the dust settled on the Yokohama canvas, the champion celebrated a result that echoed his growing legacy, while the challenger acknowledged the sheer challenge he had faced.

In the end, the night belonged entirely to Naoya Inoue, whose clinical barrage proved far too much for Yoan Boyeaux, bringing a definitive conclusion to their super-flyweight title clash.