how big is the base of the trunk? It's hard to tell with the picture rotated.
I just worked on one today which I picked up from home depot. I cut out 1/4 of the roots and about 1/2 the foliage and potted it in a shallower and wider pot with bonsai soil.
Looking at yours I see these trees like to throw branches at the same point of the main trunk or branch, one on each side. Also mine looks similar to yours such that there are 3 possible leaders to pick from to form the future apex. It was such a tough decision that I left the decision for the future with keeping it alive as the current priority. Because it has thick branches that emerge from the same point on the trunk, reverse taper is often a problem with these trees. I'm wondering how it will cope with the carving/gining practice I'm thinking can counter reverse taper.
I have to say you made a bold move to defoliate it right away. Since I have killed one years ago with drastic pruning I don't dare doing that this time.
Good luck, keep us posted on its future development.