Naoya Inoue, Junto Nakatani Plan May 2026 Tokyo Super Fight

A highly anticipated super fight between Japanese boxing champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani is shaping up to be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, with a verbal agreement in place and an expected date around May 2026 at the Tokyo Dome. Both fighters are undefeated and ranked in The Ring Magazine's top 10 pound-for-pound list, with Inoue currently holding the undisputed super bantamweight title and Nakatani the WBC bantamweight title. Nakatani and his team are pushing for the fight to happen sooner rather than later, aiming to face Inoue while he is still in his prime and before he potentially declines after upcoming challenging bouts against Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Nick Ball. Despite Inoue being knocked down twice in his career, including a recent knockdown by Ramon Cardenas, he has maintained control in his fights and remains confident about the showdown. Both fighters have expressed mutual respect and are focused on their current challenges, with Nakatani preparing for a unification bout in June and Inoue targeting mandatory defenses before the anticipated clash. The fight promises to be a defining moment not only for Japanese boxing but also on the global stage due to the high skill level and records of both boxers.