So, I am hearing a relatively trustworthy rumor from various reputable sources that Nishida is scheduled to have an unification in June on Amazon Prime 12 card. Although not signed on contract yet, the situation all but guarantees the opponent being Nakatani and the only reason it is not confirmed is because Nakatani has a voluntary defense with Cueller scheduled next week and can't guarantee an unification without winning first, which he certainly is likely to do so. In the crazy upset that Nakatani loses, Amazon Prime can still put the winner of Tsutsumi-Higa for unification as a backup. Nishida had a mandatory order given drom IBF with Jose Salas but the negotiation deadline was last month and yet no peeps about it nor news of it going to purse bid, which makes me think that he accepted step aside money. From Salas' POV, it makes sense to accept because If Nakatani wins, he is very likely to move up to 122 in preparation for an Inoue showdown next year (he's on record for saying he wants to have a few fights at 122 first to get settled at the weight class before Inoue), giving Salas an easier path to win a vacant belt. If Nishida wins, he'll still be next in line for him but with two belts on line instead of just one. Nakatani can finally get his unification that he wanted, and it will also be for the Ring lineal given that him and Nishida are 118 no. 1 and no. 2 right now. Once unified, Nakatani won't really have much he can do at 118 left without boxing politics interfering. Realistically he won't be able to go undisputed at 118 anyway due to the Takei-Tenshin route keeping him locked out of WBO until next year or later which won't be worth waiting for, and WBA will likely be going the rematch route with Takuma along with Vargas also awaiting turn. Thus, after the unification Nakatani probably is better off fighting at 122 against two high ranked contenders in the fall/winter and settle at 122 for an Inoue showdown in Spring of 2026. Lastly, this also goes along with Inoue's blueprint schedule of having Picasso (moved to the left for May), then MJ in late summer, and Ball in December Riyadh then his statement to "come back down to 122 for the match everyone is thinking about" aka Nakatani.
Where’d you get Nick Ball vs Inoue in December from? I can only find an article saying Warren wants it to happen
For what it's worth, after the ring meeting on Monday, Nishida updated his blog today and wrote "I'm currently in search of a tall, southpaw with long reach and good power!" It could be for nothing but he's definitely baiting the fans and implying the unification. It really comes down to what is going on with regard to Salas and the final words from IBF.