By Joe Koizumi

WBA bantamweight champ Naoya Inoue (16-0, 14 KOs) has announced today (Tuesday) that he will face former titlist Juan Carlos Payano (20-1, 9 KOs), Dominican Republic, in the first round (quarterfinal) for Season II of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) tournaments at the Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan, on October 7.

Naoya, 25, said, “I didn’t expect to fight the first bout here, but I wish Japanese fans will watch and appreciate my performance at the big Yokohama Arena. Payano is a skillful speedster with good experience, and it may be a technical fight. I’d like to fight with patience and finally catch up with him to score a knockout victory.” The Inoue-Payano bout will be shown abroad through the WBSS/Fuji Television.