Paris (AFP)

The Frenchman Nordine Oubaali has held up the shock and brilliantly retained his WBC World Bantamweight title by largely dominating the Japanese Takuma Inoue points in front of his audience on Thursday in Saitama, a success synonymous with new horizons for the one who dreams of a chance reunification of the category.

The 33-year-old Northman played big against the younger brother of the rooster Naoya Inoue. Undefeated in 13 outings so far and playing at home, the pugilist Yokohama (23 years) was a perfect trap for the French. But the experience and power of Oubaali made the difference against the youth and mobility of the Japanese.

Lensois, who won her belt in the Noble Art Temple in Las Vegas in January before defending her in Kazakhstan in early July, is used to performing far from her land. But this time, it is a new course he has just crossed, proving that he was impervious to pressure and able to hold his rank on hostile ground against one of the great hopes of Japanese boxing.

Sent to the carpet in the fourth round on a thundering left hook, Inoue, yet known faster, has never been able to worry Oubaali and find the right distance, except in the last round. But it was already too late and the three judges have logically unanimously awarded their scores to the French (121-107, 117-110, 115-112), still undefeated in 17 outings to professionals (including 12 before the limit). ).

- New doors -

Inoue tried to wake up at mid-fight but Oubaali, who arrived with the mask in the ring and was ultra-focused, managed with great skill his lead despite his scare in the 12th round.

Oubaali remains one of the two French "world champions" in one of the four major federations of professional boxing with Arsen Goulamirian, who will defend his WBA light-heavyweight title on Friday, November 15 in Bercy against Australian Kane watts.

He sees himself especially open new doors with a tantalizing prospect a reunification fight in 2020 against Naoya Inoue, IBF and WBA champion after defeating on Thursday the points Filipino Nonito Donaire, although it is possible that it is first forced to face his official challenger, the Mexican Luis Nery (24 years, 30 successes of which 24 by KO, 0 defeat).

It remains to be seen where his Irish promoter MTK Global will want to see him fight while Oubaali remains attached to one of his great ambitions: to release his belt in France or Morocco, which he also has nationality.

© 2019 AFP