Naoya Inoue looks to resume his ascendancy against underdog Ye Joon Kim

Stepping into the  ring with Naoya Inoue, arguably the most fearsome puncher in boxing, on just 13 days’ notice says one of two things about a person’s character.

In some ways, their remarkable degree of confidence must indicate that, somewhere within Inoue’s repertoire of elite attacks, they’ve identified some chinks in the armor.

That, of course, isn’t beyond the realm of possibility, but given the Japanese star’s tremendous rise through 28 professional outings, it’s perhaps something that, if true, has remained largely impossible.

Likewise, the bold decision to face Inoue, 28-0 (25 KOs), in such a short period of time could also be inspired by a level of courage; one that, whether justified or linked more to illusion, can be a difficult trait for the harness.

Either way, Ye Joon Kim, 21-2-2 (13 KOs), who has replaced an injured Sam Goodman, will soon find out what it means to share the ring with a generational talent.

Inoue, after all, has wreaked havoc in the lower divisions for over a decade, and will look to resume his ruthless run at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, this Friday.

But while the undisputed super bantamweight king has produced flawless performances against the likes of Stephen Fulton and Andrew Moloney, two former world champions, there have also been a few occasions where he has been forced to overcome spells of adversity.

In his first encounter with Nonito Donaire, for example, Inoue only emerged victorious after making the necessary adjustments to restore his control, stamping his authority in the championship rounds.

Similarly, against Luis Nery last year, “The Monster” showed his mettle by getting back to his feet after suffering a heavy first-round knockdown.

In doing so, the 31-year-old has proven that, even with his back seemingly against the wall, he will always find a way to win.

Meanwhile, Kim has yet to prove he possesses even a hint of Inoue’s quality, with his most recent loss coming against Rob Diezel, who has a 14-9 professional record, in 2023.

And so, while the 32-year-old may model himself after Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, due to the nickname, “Pacquiweather,” an emphatic sto