| |
|
Rise of the Samurai: Inoue vs Nakatani in 2026
By Carlos Costa PhilBoxing.com Wed, 02 Apr 2025

Japanese superstar champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani have agreed to a clash in 2026, generating immense global interest.
Friendly towards each other, the two unbeaten powerhouses, widely regarded as Japan's best, made the announcement at “Japan's Annual Boxing Awards Ceremony” on Monday.
Inoue, turning 32 very soon, on April 10, was named “Japan's Best Male Boxer” for the 7th consecutive year.
The popular superstar defended his “Undisputed” super bantamweight title twice in 2024, knocking out Mexico's Luis Nery and stopping Ireland's TJ Doheny.
"2024 was special, and I want this year to be even better," Inoue said, praising 27-year-old Nakatani.
Politely, Inoue challenged Nakatani saying, "I want to give my best for the big national match. Mr. Nakatani, let's excite Japanese boxing together at the Tokyo Dome in 2026!"
Nakatani, the WBC bantamweight champion, agreed with a smile, "Let's do it!" The two shook hands, sealing their agreement.
Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) defended his title in January and plans to fight three more times before facing Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs).
"If we both win this year, our fight could be the most exciting match in Japanese boxing history," Inoue said.
Nakatani, winner of Japan's “Best Technique” and “Japan’s KO of the Year” Awards, stated, "I need to keep developing, looking for victories with more impact."
Inoue and Nakatani are ranked 2nd and 8th in “The Ring Magazine's” pound-for-pound rankings.
However, many fans consider Naoya Inoue the current #1 P4P boxer, even P4P better that Usyk, Crawford, Canelo, and Bivol.
But the question remains: WHO would win when Inoue and Nakatani fight?
The author is veteran boxing reporter Carlos Costa of Cebu. carlos@philboxing.com
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
DAZN is Set to Make Exciting Debut in Thailand with Thrilling Dream Boxing/Highland Boxing Show By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025Hitchins Dominates, Stops Kambosos Jr. in Eighth Round to Retain IBF Super Lightweight Title By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025THAI SIMSRI READY FOR CHRISTIAN ARANETA IN IBF WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN THURSDAY IN JAPAN; WILL THE CEBUANO “BOMB” STOP HIM? By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025Pinoy Power! Pacquiao, Donaire, and Araneta Ready to Shine in World Title Fights By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025“PROSPECTS COLLIDE” TAKES CENTER STAGE , Sun, 15 Jun 2025Nonito Donaire Favorite to Beat Andrés Campos for WBA Interim World Title; Both Men Make Weight Ready in Argentina! By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Oklahoma Forces 2-2 Finals Series Tie, Starves Indiana for Point in 111-104 Win By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025PROSPECTS COLLIDE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Hitchins vs. Kambosos: Can George Be More Than A Faded Name? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Four Boxers Advance to Gold Medal Matches on Day Three of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem , Sat, 14 Jun 2025WEIGHTS FROM NEW YORK: HITCHINS - 140 LBS., KAMBOSOS - 139.4 LBS. By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Gaviola to face Narukami in Gensan By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Pacquiao Steps Up Training By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Balla stops Cabalquinto in 4th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Eight-year-old Marius Constante sweeps 5-round chess fest in Cebu By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Top Lightweight Contender Edwin De Los Santos Part Ways Amicably , Sat, 14 Jun 2025Unification WBA & IBA Pro title fight Albert Batyrgaziev vs James Dickens to crown boxing show in Istanbul on 2 July , Fri, 13 Jun 2025How the Ring's P4P Ranking Has Strayed from the Norms of Nat and Nigel By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FROM HITCHINS VS. KAMBOSOS JR , Fri, 13 Jun 2025MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS UNVEILS REMAINING PRELIMINARY CARD BOUTS FOR JAKE PAUL VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR. , Fri, 13 Jun 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier: Leading Philippine Softball’s Unstoppable Rise to International Dominance By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025Team USA Sends Seven Boxers to the Medal Rounds Thursday at World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem 2025 , Fri, 13 Jun 2025Jerusalem, Taduran 1-2 at Minimumweight; Llover Enters Bantam in Ring's Latest Ratings By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025July 26: Rohan Polanco-Quinton Randall Welterweight Showdown Tops Xander Zayas-Jorge Garcia Undercard at The Theater at Madison Square Garden , Fri, 13 Jun 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Weekend at the International Boxing Hall Of Fame By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 12 Jun 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|