TOKYO, Japan — The excitement around Tokyo has been building all week for what is certainly the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.
Everyone in town knows about the upcoming clash between undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani this Saturday at the Tokyo Dome. You can hold a conversation with anyone about the bout, from the local cab drivers to the sushi chefs – everyone knows about the big fight.
However, there are no signs of Inoue or Nakatani’s faces across the city, not on billboards or posters; that’s because the contest is so huge it does not need the promotion found in Las Vegas on fight week. The tickets have already been sold and the fight imprinted into the minds of fans long ago. You don’t see posters for the World Cup Final, and that is exactly what it represents to the people of Tokyo. For the people of Japan, this is the ultimate fight, the Super Bowl of boxing.
It pits their Tom Brady, Naoya Inoue, against the No. 1 challenger and only man many think capable of bettering “The Monster” in Junto Nakatani. During a week where Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed to square off – albeit about six years too late – Inoue and Nakatani will do what few modern fighters do and face each other in their primes, and when public demand is at its highest.
Inoue has cemented himself as the greatest Japanese boxer of all-time by winning world titles in four weight classes, including becoming undisputed in not one, but two divisions. His world title span stretches from claiming his first strap down at 108lbs when he was 20 years old to now holding all four belts at 122lbs aged 33. In that time he has registered 32 wins, no defeats, and has finished 27 of his opponents inside the scheduled distance.
He has become known for his knockouts, which typically come both brutal and early, something unheard of from fighters down in the lower weight classes. Despite his small stature, Inoue has cemented himself as not only one of the pound-for-pound hardest hitters in the sport, but maybe its finest fighter. His dominance has seen him pick up dozens of accolades over his 14 year career, but there are worries that he may now be on the slide.
Inoue stopped Marlon Tapales to unify all four belts at junior featherweight in 2023, but has failed to register that kind of performance ever since. He has been floored heavily by both Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas, and failed to reach his high standards against the little known Alan David Picasso last time out in December. The fast feet that have brought Inoue so much success over the years may now be starting to slow ever so slightly, just enough to mean that the rocket of a right hand he used to land with so much spite falls just short.
However, despite question marks raised in recent bouts, he is still one of the finest fighters on the planet. His footwork means he cuts the ring off better than all his peers, he finds room for his shots where even the eyes cannot see, and takes away his foes best attributes in a matter of minutes. His ring IQ is arguably only lesser to that of his pound-for-pound rival Oleksandr Usyk, and when he is on-song, there are few fighters better to watch. Inoue almost makes a scuffle between two men look like a rendition of Swan Lake.
His opponent on Saturday, however, is almost equally as graceful in the ring. Nakatani, from Inabe-gun, Japan, and a holder of world honours in three weight classes, brings a beautiful brutality to the squared circle. For a fighter who normally towers over his opponents, standing at 5’ 8”, he fights incredibly well on the inside, but also uses his 68 ½ inch reach to his advantage. He often probes his jab into the face of his foe before delivering a looping left hand that quite often lands with bad intentions. Nakatani seemed to come into his own at bantamweight, claiming the WBC and IBF titles and knocking out all five of his opponents at 118lbs.
However, since moving up in weight last year, he has struggled to register that same dominance at 122lbs. Nakatani has fought in one sole bout, and claimed a dubious decision win over Sebastian Hernandez out in Saudi Arabia back in December. The frontfooted Mexican caused Nakatani all kinds of trouble. Nakatani found a home for his left hand early, but unlike at 118lbs, his foe did not budge. Nakatani was taken into deep waters, found himself gasping for air, but was helped ashore by the three judges seated ringside.
That performance would lead one to believe that taking on who many believe the pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport to be a step too far. However, that is not how boxing works, and as the old saying goes: Styles make fights. Inoue will not bring the same rugged approach that Hernandez brought to the table out in the Saudi heat. The chess match and straight punching that his compatriot from Zama, Japan, brings is much more suited to the 32-0 (24 KOs) Nakatani.
Not many will agree with this prediction, and quite rightly too, but this writer heard a quote recently and it has stayed with him heading into Saturday’s fight. “Inoue has been looking awfully like “Canelo” Alvarez in recent fights.” Now that does not mean in style, but in that he still has enough quality to defeat B-level or even some A-level opposition, but he is just not the fighter he once was. The Inoue who breezed through Stephen Fulton in his first bout at 122lbs would have made a mockery over Picasso in December, which is why this writer is picking Nakatani to become the first man to register a win over “The Monster”.
Nakatani’s style and in particular his left hand could turn out to be a real issue for Inoue, especially down the stretch. With Nakatani’s long reach and footwork that could even rival Inoue’s, the undisputed champion may find himself down on the cards and desperate. Inoue has found himself on the canvas or hurt, often from left hands in recent fights, and if he goes chasing the result that may happen again. Nakatani, however, is not the type of fighter to let his man off the hook, and he is most likely the hardest puncher and best finisher Inoue has fought in his 32 professional contests.
Credit where credit is due to Inoue for taking on his toughest test and he should be applauded for doing so, no matter the result. Too often champions take the easy route, or only take on the very best when everything lines up in their favour. Inoue-Nakatani is what the sport needs, and hopefully more follow suit.
