The Day Preview: Inoue vs Nakatani
Written by Greg & Tony on 4/29/26
Saturday 5/2/26 on DAZN:
Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani
8:00 AM ET/7:00 AM CT
Who’s Fighting:
Naoya Inoue (32-0) is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters we have seen in generations. His resume is already at a hall of fame level with 27 KOs in 32 undefeated bouts, making him a FOUR division world champion and undisputed in two weight classes. He has the rare combination of elite technique, speed, and power, wasting no punches and beating his opponents from the body to the head.
Junto Nakatani (32-0) is not the global superstar that Naoya “The Monster” Inoue is. However Nakatani is clearly the 2nd best Japanese fighter and generally agreed to be in the bottom half of the top Pound for Pound lists. Junto is a three division champion and has always been one weight class behind Inoue. Nakatani is a tall, smart south paw who can put devastating combinations together when he has his opponent battered.
Why You Should Watch:
Tony: Nakatani is a real threat, and we’ve seen Inoue get clipped in the past before. Inoue’s defense is not a weakness, but it’s the closest thing to a weakness he has. If Nakatani can catch Inoue, he has the combinations to wear down or even stop him. This is truly one of the greatest fights in years on paper, and certainly the biggest fight for Japan of all time. There is a lot on the line for both fighters as they try to further cement their legacies in both boxing and Japanese sport as a whole. The level of talent, experience, and background of this fight makes it a boxing lover’s dream.
Greg: Inoue and Nakatani are two of the best and most exciting fighters south of the 130 lb weight classes. They are both dynamic fighters who would rather knock you out cold than win a safe decision. Now they are both fighting for pride and legacy and claim the title of best fighter in Japan. This clash will face off in the Tokyo Dome (3rd time ever sold out for a fight). Both men will be looking to knock out the other. They will need to take risks to attain greatness. That means there will be levels of drama and excitement most fights never see.