Japanese Boxing Rivals Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani Set Up Highly Anticipated Fight for 2026
Japanese boxing rivals Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani have set up one of the biggest fights for 2026 after both registered wins on Saturday. Inoue, the undisputed junior featherweight champion, outclassed David Picasso to win by unanimous scores of 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111 at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Inoue’s dominant win over Picasso was a testament to his exceptional skill and power. The 32-year-old boxer from Yokohama, Japan, has shown vulnerability in recent fights, recovering from knockdowns in two of his previous five fights. However, his speed, skill, and power were levels above Picasso’s, and he consistently beat the Mexican challenger to the punch, repeatedly targeting his body.
According to ESPN, Inoue has been one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters, with a record of 32-0 and 27 KOs. His seventh junior featherweight title defense against Picasso was a masterclass in boxing, with Inoue landing wave upon wave of combinations on the challenger in the first three rounds.
Nakatani, on the other hand, made a victorious debut at junior featherweight but endured the toughest fight of his career to prevail by a unanimous points decision (115-113, 115-113, and 118-110) over Sebastian Hernandez. The 27-year-old boxer from Kanagawa, Japan, showed great resilience and determination, finishing the fight with his right eye swollen shut.
Nakatani Survives Tough Fight Against Hernandez
Nakatani’s fight against Hernandez was a brutal 12-round non-title fight that saw both boxers give it their all. Hernandez, from Mexico but based in San Diego, had assembled an impressive knockout ratio below world title level, but this performance showed he is good enough to win world titles. Nakatani initially took control behind his southpaw jab, then opened up more in Round 2 when he landed a shuddering left hook on the counter.
As reported by Boxing Scene, Nakatani landed a brilliant right uppercut late in the third as his punches continued to be sharper on the counter. Hernandez applied effective pressure in the second half of Round 4, but Nakatani continued to find him with uppercuts. Both threw a lot of punches in a furious Round 6, and the middle rounds were uncomfortable for Nakatani.
Inoue vs. Nakatani: The Biggest Fight in Japanese Boxing History
The upcoming fight between Inoue and Nakatani will be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, with two of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters facing each other for Inoue’s 122-pounds title belts. As stated by The Ring, Inoue has been one of the most dominant boxers in the world, with a record of 32-0 and 27 KOs. Nakatani, on the other hand, has been making a name for himself in the boxing world, with a record of 32-0 and 24 KOs.
The fight between Inoue and Nakatani is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated fights of 2026, with both boxers looking to prove themselves as the best in the world. As reported by Boxing News 24, the fight will be a clash of styles, with Inoue’s speed and power going up against Nakatani’s resilience and determination.
