Naoya Inoue cemented his legacy with a unanimous decision win against fellow Japanese Junto Nakatani to retain his undisputed super-bantamweight status in Tokyo. The fight took place at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, 2026.
Key facts:
- Inoue defended his undisputed and Ring junior featherweight championships.
- All 55,000 tickets sold out a month before fight night.
- Nakatani entered the fight with a record of 32 wins and 0 losses, including 24 KOs.
- Inoue weighed 121.5 pounds while Nakatani weighed 121.9 pounds.
Inoue opened as a 1/4 (-400) favorite, while Nakatani was a 3/1 (+300) underdog. Inoue won the fight with scores of 116-112 from two judges and 115-113 from the third judge. Nakatani suffered a cut above his left eye in the tenth round.
The fight was streamed live on DAZN, showcasing one of Japan’s most significant boxing events. Inoue is now a four-division world champion and remains undisputed in two weight classes.
Junto Nakatani expressed confidence before the match, stating, “By defeating the world’s best in Naoya Inoue, I will prove that I am the strongest.” Inoue countered with determination, saying, “Above all, the feeling that I cannot lose is what drives me. I refuse to lose to Junto Nakatani.”
This match is regarded as one of the most meaningful fights on Japanese soil since Fighting Harada dethroned Eder Jofre in May 1965. The event’s significance adds to its historical weight in Japanese boxing.
