While everybody talks about Naoya and Bam…
…his brother just got handed a big job of his own.
The WBC has ordered bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue to defend against No. 1 contender Andrew Cain of Liverpool.
Another mandatory.
In Japan they're calling it what it is — UNUSUAL. Two mandatory defences in a row.
Takuma only just got through the last one. In September he beat Tenshin Nasukawa in their rematch in Tokyo, but he had to get up off the floor in round seven to do it.
Now comes a man who punches for a living.
Cain — 15-1, 13 KOs.
He earned this shot the hard way in February. Down in the eighth round of his eliminator against Alejandro González… then got up and stopped him in the ninth.
Takuma — 23-2, 5 KOs. The boxer. The thinker.
Cain — the puncher who doesn't know when he's beaten.
And here's one for our Filipino fans: if this gets made, it's Takuma's first foreign opponent in six fights.
The last one ?
Jerwin Ancajas, February 2024.
So does the champion out-box another banger ?
Or does Liverpool take the green belt away from the Inoue family ?
No date. No venue. Not yet.
But this one has upset written all over it !!
🇯🇵 TAKUMA INOUE (23-2, 5 KOs) vs ANDREW CAIN (15-1, 13 KOs) 🇬🇧
🥊 WBC Bantamweight World Championship (ordered)
📅 TBA
📺 TBA
Stay tuned !
Sources:
WBC (11 Nov 2026) — https://wbcboxing.com/en/wbc-mandatories-in-acapulco-decisions-across-all-18-divisions/
Nikkan Sports (12 Nov 2026) — https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/boxing/news/202611120001036.html
Fight Sports (12 Nov 2026) — https://www.fightsports.tv/naoya-inoues-brother-takuma-inoue-ordered-to-defend-title/
MiddleEasy (11 Nov 2026) — https://middleeasy.com/boxing/andrew-cain-takuma-inoue-wbc-bantamweight-title-order/
