Takuma Inoue vs Liborio Solis Preview April 8th, 2023
The vacant WBA Bantamweight Title is up for grabs this Saturday, April 8th as Takuma Inoue of Japan faces former world champion Liborio Solis of Venezuela. The fight from Tokyo is being broadcast on ESPN+ in America and on the TSN+ app in Canada starting about 3am ET. Inoue last fought in December when he stopped Jake Bornea in the eighth round while Solis last saw action in November when he halted Luis Carrillo in the second round.
Inoue vs Solis Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Liborio Solis +1000
- Takuma Inoue – 2000
My Pick
The 27-year-old Inoue is the younger brother Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue and owns a mark of 17-1 with 4 Ko’s and has 158 rounds of experience under his belt since turning pro in 2013 following an amateur career. Inoue stands just over 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64-inch reach. He possesses just a small fraction of his brother’s power though as his current knockout ratio is just 22.2 per cent and he’s stopped just one of his last seven opponents, which came in his last outing however. Inoue has never fought a pro with a losing record and beat Mark Anthony Geraldo by unanimous decision in 2015 for the vacant OPBF Super Flyweight Title.
He then defended it twice before moving up in weight. He captured the WBC interim World Bantamweight Title in 2018 by beating Tasala Salapat by unanimous decision. His lone loss came by unanimous decision to Nordine Oubaali in a shot at the WBC Bantamweight Title in November, 2019 on the undercard of the first Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire fight. He’s also captured the Japanese and WBO Asia Pacific Super Bantamweight Crowns as a pro.
The 41-year-old Solis climbs through the ropes with a mark of 36-6-1 with 16 Ko’s. He’s not a power puncher either and possesses a knockout ratio of 37.2 per cent. He turned pro back in 2000 and has boxed 273 rounds since. He stands 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 68-inch reach so has a four-inch reach advantage on Inoue. Solis has a solid chin as he’s never been stopped, but has dropped decisions to Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2020 in a shot at the vacant WBA bantamweight Title as well as to Jamie McDonnell and Shinsuke Yamanaka in shots at the same WBA Bantamweight Belt and to Ricardo Nunez, Henry Maldonado and Yenifel Vicente.
Solis captured the interim WBA Super Flyweight Title over Jose Salgado in 2011 and added the full belt in 2015 by beating Kohei Kono. He then took the IBF Title with a win over Daiki Kameda. Solis has plenty of big-fight experience and showed in the first fight with McDonnell that he can definitely be quite a handful due to his fine boxing skills, speed and ring generalship. He also fought McDonnell a second time but the fight was stopped in the third round and called a no-decision.
Solis also has wins over Jose Jiminez, Ronald Barrera and Jonathan Burgos and has held a few other minor and regional titles during his career but usually falls short when stepping up in class. His lone draw was a six-round affair with Jose Isaias Sanchez in 2002. Solis is in the twilight of his career now though and this should be his fifth and last shot at a world bantamweight title.
Prediction…
Solis is a crafty veteran with plenty of skills while Inoue is also a fine boxer. Both have little in the way of power and own solid chins. This could be a bit of a chess match to begin with but considering Inoue is 14 years younger and fighting at home in Japan, he should have the edge here and leave the ring with one of the bantamweight belts his brother used to hold.
Inoue’s boxing skills and solid chin should do the trick.
Play: Inoue – 2000 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Liborio Solis betting • Takuma Inoue betting