On May 31 (Saturday), at K-1 BEYOND held at Yokohama BUNTAI in Kanagawa, Shu Inagaki (Japan / K-1 Gym Omiya Team Leon) will challenge K-1 WORLD GP Super Lightweight Champion Yodkhunpon Weerasakreck (Thailand / Weerasakreck Fairtex Gym) for his title.

Shu Inagaki, had previously racked up 11 consecutive wins across K-1 and Krush. In the opening round of the same September 2024 tournament, he knocked out Lenny Blasi, then defeated Tomas Aguirre in the semifinals. Although he fell short against Yodkhunpon in the final, it was a narrow miss from becoming champion. In February 2025, he earned a decision victory over Daizo Sasaki, securing his second shot at Yodkhunpon’s K-1 Super Lightweight title.

Q: What kind of preparation have you done for this upcoming fight against Yodkhunpon, within what you can reveal?
“I brought in a Muay Thai trainer and worked on clinch defense. Clinching is technically a foul in K-1, but in our last fight, Yodkhunpon used it very cleverly.”

Q: Can you elaborate on that?
“It was a grey area, really. He didn’t grab and hold to control me fully, but he used brief clinches to break my balance. So this time, I’ve been focused on not getting broken down and improving my defensive techniques.”

Q: Do you think this time will be different?
“Yes, it’ll definitely be different. My core strength has improved, and my neck is thicker now. When I sparred with Muay Thai fighters, I noticed that they instinctively fall into the clinch, and it’s the same with Yodkhunpon. If I get disrupted like that again, it can leave a bad impression on the judges. So I’ve taken measures against it.”

Q: So this time you won’t be broken down.
“Exactly. In fact, I plan to break him down instead. (laughs)”

Q: Any other special training?
“I also went out to another gym for boxing training. I sparred once a week with former K-1 fighter and current boxer Yasuomi Soda. He’s from a higher weight class (70kg), so sparring with someone bigger was very educational.”

Q: What changed as a result?
“Taking heavy punches from a boxer in training gives me the mental composure to stay calm if I get hit hard during the actual fight. I’ve gained confidence in my punching too. I want to knock Yodkhunpon out with his own specialty: the left hook.”

Q: In your last fight with Daizo Sasaki, you scored a knockdown first but got knocked down later. What happened there?
“It’s not that I let my guard down, but I think my mental weakness showed. I was still immature at the time. But going through that was a big learning experience. We both had our reasons for not wanting to lose, and I really felt his fighting spirit.”

Q: So the fact that you still won was significant.
“Going into Round 3 after being knocked down, I knew I had to go for the win or I’d lose. That experience was invaluable.”

Q: Why do you think you managed to win in the end?
“Because I had practiced imagining all sorts of scenarios in advance. I’d visualize during shadowboxing how to respond if I got knocked down.”

Q: Shadowboxing with knockdown scenarios in mind?
“Yes. I practice Round 3s in different imagined situations—whether I’m ahead, even, or behind. Having those concrete images really helps. Shadowboxing is one of the most important forms of training.”

Q: That’s something only fighters would understand. You also mentioned spotting a hole in Yodkhunpon’s punches. Can you talk about that, within reason?
“It’s in the way he throws. All of his finishes have come from punches, so I believe there’s a bit of overconfidence there. I want to exploit that.”

Q: So you’re saying to watch closely when he starts throwing punches.
“Exactly. When he starts throwing, That’s my chance to knock him out.”

Q: That’s something to look forward to. Has your impression of Yodkhunpon changed?
“I saw his fight against Meng Gaofeng in China this March, and he’s definitely tough. He’s very good at hiding damage.”

Q: What kind of fight do you want to show this time?
“There’s this aura of Yodkhunpon being unbeatable, but my theme this time is to not let him do anything. I want people to say afterward, ‘Was that it?’”

Q: If you become the K-1 World Champion, what kind of champion do you want to be?
“I want to be a champion who people say can’t be touched. I might also move up in weight. I’m tall and have been building muscle, so I’m gaining weight naturally. I think it’s about time.”

Q: Are you keeping an eye on fighters in the 65kg division of other organizations?
“I’m only focused on K-1 for now, but yes, I am aware of them.”

Q: Taio Asahisa moved up to 65kg. Is a match with him possible?
“I respect him as someone who was already making a name for himself before I debuted. But whether we fight or not depends on timing. I don’t know how many more fights I’ll have at this weight.”

Q: Would you move up to 70kg this year?
“I’m not sure yet, but ideally, I’d like to go straight to 70kg. There are fewer Japanese fighters there, and a lot of strong international opponents. It’s an exciting challenge. Right now I weigh around 73kg while staying lean and in shape.”

Q: A future challenge at 70kg sounds exciting. This event features three title fights. Do you want your fight to stand out the most?
“Absolutely. I’m the only Japanese fighter in a title match this time. I definitely want to be the one who stands out most. This is K-1 in Japan—if a Japanese fighter doesn’t take the belt, that’s not acceptable.”