On May 2, 2026, Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani delivered one of the most anticipated fights in Japanese boxing history at the Tokyo Dome—and it lived up to the hype. In front of a sold-out crowd of more than 55,000 fans, Inoue successfully defended his undisputed super bantamweight titles in a thrilling 12-round battle.
The fight began cautiously, with both fighters showing respect for each other’s power. Inoue quickly established control using his sharp jab, precise combinations, and superior footwork, building an early lead on the scorecards. Nakatani, however, remained patient and composed, gradually increasing his aggression as the fight progressed.
By the middle rounds, the bout intensified. Nakatani started landing cleaner shots and applied pressure, even mounting a strong surge in the later rounds. A pivotal moment came in the 10th round when an accidental clash of heads left Nakatani with a cut, briefly disrupting his momentum.
Despite the late challenge, Inoue showed championship composure, responding with crisp counters and closing the fight strong. He ultimately won by unanimous decision (116–112, 115–113, 116–112), extending his undefeated record and solidifying his status as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound greats.