The all-Japanese showdown between hard-hitting stars Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani is widely regarded by boxing experts as one of the most thrilling matchups the sport can offer across all weight divisions. Now, another small step toward the realization of this epic clash has been taken: Junto Nakatani has announced his intention to vacate his WBC and IBF bantamweight titles in order to move up to his future opponent’s weight class.
Nakatani had unified the two belts just two months ago, when he forced fellow countryman Ryosuke Nishida to retire after six rounds marked by a clear disparity in punching power. His initial bantamweight title win came in February 2024, when he knocked out Mexican fighter Alexandro Santiago in six rounds to capture the WBC belt.
Previously a world champion at flyweight and super flyweight, Nakatani has compiled an unblemished record of 31 wins in as many fights, with 24 victories coming by knockout. Some of his KOs, such as the one delivered against Australian Andrew Moloney in 2023, have left fans stunned by their sheer explosiveness.
Naoya Inoue, for his part, needs no introduction: “The Monster”—already a four-division world champion (light flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight, and super bantamweight)—currently holds all four major belts at 122 pounds and has defeated all 30 of his professional opponents, scoring 27 knockouts.
Inoue is scheduled to defend his titles on September 14, when he will face Uzbek challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Japan. He is then likely to meet Mexican contender Alan David Picasso in December, before setting his sights—barring any setbacks—on the super fight with Nakatani, projected for May 2026.
Nakatani will use the available time to adjust to his new weight class: his debut at super bantamweight is expected to take place this fall.