Naoya Inoue: Busy Schedule Key to Success Ahead of Potential Junto Nakatani Fight
Naoya Inoue, the undisputed world junior featherweight champion, believes his busy schedule this year has been crucial in building momentum for a potential mega-fight with Junto Nakatani in 2026. Inoue, widely regarded as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound boxers, is expected to retain his titles against Mexican challenger Alan Picasso at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27.
Inoue’s Japanese rival, Nakatani, will face Sebastian Hernandez in the co-main event of the card. If both Inoue and Nakatani emerge victorious, they will have a face-to-face encounter to officially announce their highly anticipated fight at the Tokyo Dome in 2026. The bout is being hailed as the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, with many expecting it to be a clash for the ages.
Too Many Fights? Inoue Rejects Concerns
Inoue, 32, will make his seventh junior featherweight title defense against Picasso, marking his fourth fight this year. While some have questioned whether his busy schedule has been too much, Inoue believes it has been perfect for building momentum ahead of the potential Nakatani fight. “Firstly, I like fighting, and second, I want to keep building my career step by step, so this is why I chose to fight four times this year,” Inoue told ESPN.
Inoue’s activity this year is unmatched among men’s world champion boxers. Following a Round 4 KO of Ki Ye-Joon in January, Inoue admitted he was “mentally exhausted.” However, he bounced back with a masterful performance against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, sustaining a relentless pace to unanimously outpoint his opponent. Inoue believes this year’s busy schedule has been crucial in preparing him for the Nakatani fight. “It’s very important for me and very good for me to have four fights in the year ahead of a fight with Nakatani,” he said.
Inoue, a world champion in four weight divisions, was recently ranked No. 2 behind super middleweight champion Terence Crawford in ESPN’s 2025 boxing top 100. A victory over Nakatani could earn him the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Nakatani
