Naoya Inoue Posts Scorecard And Claims Referee Cheated After Being Defeated By John Riel Casimero After 10 Rounds In The Ring – The King Cried

In a shocking twist that has sent shockwaves throughout the boxing world, Naoya Inoue, known globally as “The Monster,” has suffered a controversial defeat at the hands of John Riel Casimero after ten grueling rounds in the ring. What followed was even more surprising: Inoue, typically composed and stoic, posted the official scorecard on social media and publicly accused the referee of biased officiating, claiming he was “cheated” out of victory.

The bout, which took place at a packed arena filled with high-stakes tension, was billed as a clash between two of the fiercest bantamweights in the world. With undefeated Inoue stepping into the ring as the clear favorite, many expected a clinical display. Instead, what fans witnessed was a contentious, emotionally charged night that ended with Casimero having his hand raised in victory—and Inoue in tears.

A War of Skill and Will

From the opening bell, Casimero came out aggressively, throwing looping punches and aiming to disrupt Inoue’s trademark timing and control. While Inoue landed clean, crisp combinations in the early rounds, Casimero’s awkward rhythm and relentless pressure started to tell as the bout went on.

The two traded rounds in a back-and-forth battle, with the audience on edge. Inoue controlled much of the middle rounds with cleaner work, but Casimero rallied in the later rounds, clearly outworking the Japanese star in the 9th and 10th.

At the final bell, fans were divided. The fight appeared close, but few expected the announcement that followed.

The Decision That Stunned the Boxing World

When the judges’ scorecards were read—96-94, 97-93, and 95-95 in favor of John Riel Casimero—a mixture of boos and cheers erupted from the crowd. Inoue stood stunned in his corner, disbelief written across his face. Cameras caught him shaking his head, visibly frustrated, before walking over to Casimero to offer a curt handshake.

In the post-fight interview, Casimero claimed vindication:

“They said he was the king, the monster. I told you I would expose him. I fight with my heart, and tonight I showed who the real champion is.”

Inoue declined to attend the official post-fight press conference.

Inoue’s Explosive Social Media Response

Hours later, Naoya Inoue broke his silence on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Posting a photo of the fight’s official scorecard with red circles around the judges’ names and questionable round scores, he captioned the image:

“This is not boxing. This is robbery. The referee and one judge gave him rounds I clearly won. Watch Round 7 again. Watch Round 4. You will see. I was cheated.”

In a follow-up post, he added:

“I’ve never cried after a fight in my life. Not when I won. Not when I lost. But tonight, I cried because this wasn’t about who was better. It was about who was protected.”

The posts quickly went viral, with hashtags like #JusticeForInoue and #BoxingCorruption trending globally. Supporters flooded the comments, demanding a rematch and calling for an investigation into the officiating crew assigned to the fight.

A Blow to Inoue’s Legacy—or Fuel for His Return?

The loss marks Inoue’s first professional defeat, and it’s one wrapped in controversy. Known for his humility and sportsmanship, this emotional outburst from Inoue has only amplified public interest in a potential rematch. For a boxer who has decimated multiple weight divisions with precision and power, this setback may become the most defining chapter of his career.

Boxing analyst Steve Kim weighed in on ESPN, saying:

“We all know what Inoue is capable of. But now we’ll see what he’s made of. This defeat could either derail him mentally, or we could see a new, even more dangerous version of Naoya Inoue.”

Casimero Responds to Inoue’s Claims

In the hours following Inoue’s posts, John Riel Casimero responded on X:

“No excuses. You cry like a baby when you lose? I fought with honor. You lost with ego. We can do it again. Anywhere. Anytime.”

Casimero’s statement only stoked the fire, with fans now demanding a rematch between the two to settle the score—this time with neutral officiating and no room for controversy.

Boxing Community Reacts: A Divided House

Prominent names in boxing, from promoters to former champions, chimed in on the decision:

• Teddy Atlas: “Close fight, yes. Robbery? Not quite. But some of those scorecards were suspicious.”

• Manny Pacquiao: “Proud of Casimero for putting the Philippines on the map again. But Inoue deserves respect—he’s still one of the best.”

• Andre Ward: “You never want the storyline to be the ref or judges. But this one smells bad.”

Even UFC champion Sean O’Malley posted:

“That ref was shady. Inoue got robbed. Simple.”

A Potential Rematch and Redemption Arc

With both fighters now locked in a war of words, and public opinion heavily invested, the stage is set for one of the most anticipated rematches in recent boxing memory.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who has promoted many of Inoue’s fights, hinted at what may be next:

“This is not how a fight of this magnitude should end. We’re working with all parties to ensure a rematch happens before the end of the year. Let’s run it back.”

Final Thoughts: The King Cried, But He’s Not Done

Naoya Inoue may have left the ring defeated, but he hasn’t lost the faith of the boxing world. If anything, this controversial outcome has added a new dimension to his already legendary career. The tears he shed in the ring spoke of heartbreak, yes—but also of a fire reignited.

And as the boxing community braces for what comes next, one thing is certain:
The Monster will return. And next time, he’ll be hunting redemption.