Which fight was better: Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol 1 or Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Flo_Raiden, May 28, 2026.


Which was the better fight

  1. Beterbiev vs Bivol

    16 vote(s)
    64.0%

  2. Inoue vs Nakatani

    9 vote(s)
    36.0%
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  1. lt. columbo

    lt. columbo Member Full Member

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    Dec 2, 2023
    both of those fights were good for the significance to the weight class they fight in.
     
    lt. columbo, May 29, 2026
    lt. columbo, May 29, 2026
    #16
  2. Bigplatts

    Bigplatts Member Full Member

    485
    928
    Aug 20, 2024
    Bivol-Beterbiev 1 is a classic in my eyes. High stakes chess match. Ebbs and flows right up till the end.

    Inoue-Nakatani felt like a bit of a non-fight till the last few rounds. Honestly didn’t enjoy watching it, which was surprising.
     
    Bigplatts, May 29, 2026
    Bigplatts, May 29, 2026
    #17
    Wizbit1013, gollumsluvslave and slash like this.
  3. Reuben Jones

    Reuben Jones Member Full Member

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    535
    Nov 20, 2022
    Normally, I agree. I don't usually like watching chess matches/tactical boxing. But when it involves two massive P4P names where their legacies are on the line... who you've been wanting to face each other for a long time, I honestly don't mind at all. The tension is incredible, and you can't look away just in case you miss something. However, if it was two boxers I didn't know anything about, sure, I'd probably zone out massively. :lol:
     
    Reuben Jones, Jun 4, 2026
    Reuben Jones, Jun 4, 2026
    #18
    gollumsluvslave and bandeedo like this.
  4. OldSchoolBoxing

    OldSchoolBoxing Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Sep 30, 2021
    Inoue is probably the most hyped, overrated fighter in humanity's known history.
     
    OldSchoolBoxing, Jun 4, 2026
    OldSchoolBoxing, Jun 4, 2026
    #19
  5. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oct 12, 2010
    I feel like some people are underselling Inoue vs Nakatani. First 8 rounds were tense and it wasn't like it was all a staring contest throughout. There were feints, positioning, defensive awareness, adjustments, and moments of quick explosive punches thrown. When you have two very technical fighters who have the power to end a fight at any given moment you're not always going to have an all-out slugfest when so much is on the line in a big stage. But even then it wasn't like it was devoid of any entertainment value. Inoue simply had the upper hand due to his superior speed which Nakatani couldn't catch up with until the fight wore on and it gradually became more exciting all the way to the very end.

    As George Foreman used to say "boxing is like jazz, the better it is the less people will appreciate it".
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 4, 2026
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 4, 2026
    #20
    Drew101, gollumsluvslave and Reuben Jones like this.
  6. northpaw

    northpaw Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Jun 5, 2010
    I liked watching the Bivol/Beterbiev fight more than the Inoue/Nakatani fight
     
    northpaw, Jun 5, 2026
    northpaw, Jun 5, 2026
    #21
  7. PIPO23

    PIPO23 Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    May 18, 2006
    Nakatani looked like dogs pile in his last fight the boi is huge for his weight class as well.I would go Betterbiev for sure.
     
    PIPO23, Jun 5, 2026
    PIPO23, Jun 5, 2026
    #22
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