Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025.


"El Monstruo de Japón/1.65m Godzilla/怪物 (Kaibutsu/Monster)" or "Big Bang"?

Poll closed May 3, 2026.

  1. Inoue on points

    27 vote(s)
    40.3%

  2. Inoue by stoppage

    31 vote(s)
    46.3%

  3. Draw

    1 vote(s)
    1.5%

  4. Nakatani on points

    4 vote(s)
    6.0%

  5. Nakatani by stoppage

    4 vote(s)
    6.0%
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  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    May third at Tokyo Dome. Inoue will defend the IBF, Ring Magazine, and WBA super bantamweight titles each for a seventh time as well as the WBO & WBC titles for an eighth time. Nakatani, despite literally just having jumped into the division last week, is currently Inoue's super bantam/junior feather mandatory in all four major sanctioning orgs (technically he's only #3 in the IBF, but the #1 and #2 spots are vacant so that's functionally the same as being #1 as he is under the WBO/WBC/WBA).

    Both men are 32-0 professionally. Inoue, also coincidentally 32 years old, has 27 victories by KO. Nakatani, the younger man by five years, has 24.
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #1
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  2. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Inoue 2/9
    Nakatani 10/3
    Draw 25/1
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #2
  3. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    Inoue by KO7, Nakatani's power is still quite potent at Super Bantamweight, Hernandez just has an extraordinary chin, and was still stunned a few times. So The Monster still has to be careful, and he already proved that he can box cautiously and still dominate a southpaw in Akhmadaliev, which I personally think was practice, laying the groundwork for this match. Maybe even the Picasso match, because scoring KO's is less important than adding legacy defining wins to your resume. So, Naoya will take his time early, probably focus on countering with his left hook, wear him down, and KO him in the middle rounds.
     
    CST80, Dec 31, 2025
    CST80, Dec 31, 2025
    #3
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  4. James Hudson

    James Hudson Active Member Full Member

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    This fight been confirmed?
     
    James Hudson, Dec 31, 2025
    James Hudson, Dec 31, 2025
    #4
  5. peter_uk

    peter_uk Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Nakatani is very good, but Inoue is pretty much better in every respect; he is the better boxer, quicker, the bigger man, and the harder puncher. Ultimately I feel when Inoue decides to turn the screw and pour on the pressure there will be little Nakatani can do, and he will wilt under the pressure. Having said all that I quite like Nakatani and if he pulls off the improbable then all the props to him, but I really don't see it (and I also hope not because I like Inoue more).
     
    peter_uk, Dec 31, 2025
    peter_uk, Dec 31, 2025
    #5
  6. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    It's supposedly going to be made officially official very soon, but yes, barring anything crazy happening, May third is on.
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #6
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  7. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Yeah, that's how I see it - Nakatani will know he's at his most dangerous in the first half (people scored anywhere between the first three and five rounds for him against SHR), but we've seen Inoue box a more cautious and measured pace up front against both MJ and Picasso.

    As soon as Nak inevitably lets up, the Monster will devour him. :deal:
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #7
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  8. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Inoue gives up 3" of height and 1" of reach.
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #8
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  9. TNSNO1878

    TNSNO1878 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Inoue destroys Nakatani, and then everyone will say that it isn't an A-grade win because Junto was always overrated. Can already see it a mile off. Then we will have a mountain of threads justifying that Usyk is better P4P because he steamrolled Deontay Wilder.
     
    TNSNO1878, Dec 31, 2025
    TNSNO1878, Dec 31, 2025
    #9
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  10. MetalLicker

    MetalLicker I Am Full Member

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    Inoue is the obvious favorite, but he has to watch out for that left hook.

    If Nakatani lands that patented left hook, it'll be goodnight. Nakatani knows how to set it up and he can land it.

    Even if Hernandez gave him a hard time, Nakatani still landed a lot of hard shots on him, but he has the chin to take it. Inoue's chin won't be able to take it as easily.
     
    MetalLicker, Dec 31, 2025
    MetalLicker, Dec 31, 2025
    #10
  11. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Honestly yeah I can see that happening, even though Nak's last four opponents have a combined record of 134-1. :lol:

    "bUt ThEy ArEn'T hEaVyWeIgHtS sO i DoN't KnOw ThEm"

    Nakatani >>> prime Wilder p4p, let alone Wilder in the big 2025.
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #11
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  12. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA Full Member

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    Whoa, since when does Inoue have a proven worse chin than SHR? :dunno
     
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    IntentionalButt, Dec 31, 2025
    #12
    CST80 likes this.
  13. MetalLicker

    MetalLicker I Am Full Member

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    He’s been knocked down by the left hook twice in his last few fights. The concern is that he’s kinda open to that punch and Nakatani has the means to land it.
     
    MetalLicker, Dec 31, 2025
    MetalLicker, Dec 31, 2025
    #13
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  14. CST80

    CST80 The Hesitant Nihilist Staff Member

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    Who's to say that Cardenas and Nery don't hit harder than Nakatani at Super Bantamweight? Inoue took Donaire's left hook several times, and there's few deadlier. He seemed okay after they both tagged him, it was merely a case of an overeager fighter being caught cold.
     
    CST80, Dec 31, 2025
    CST80, Dec 31, 2025
    #14
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  15. Chuck Norris

    Chuck Norris Obsessed with Boxing

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    Nakatani, talent wise with athleticism and physicality should be Inoue's toughest opponent. However his inability to adjust against Hernandez: to slow the tempo down, to change his tactic after the second half and his clinching game, was rather underwhelming. Inoue is somebody with extremly high Ring IQ, so Nakatani has to really work on his game plan if he wants to stand a chance.
     
    Chuck Norris, Dec 31, 2025
    Chuck Norris, Dec 31, 2025
    #15
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