Inoue Vs Nakatani eyed for Spring 2026!
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Earlier today the 2024 Boxing Annual Awards Ceremony was held at the Tokyo Dome Hotel, to award Japanese fighters for various achievements throughout the year. The talking points this year wasn’t who won what, as it usually is, but an interaction between two men who now, officially, seem to be on a collision course for Spring 2026, at the Tokyo Dome
The men in question were undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25) [井上尚弥] and WBC Bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (30-0, 23) [中谷 潤人], who each picked up honours during the event, with Inoue winning the Best Boxer award for the 8th time.
Whilst on the stage Inoue issued the challenge to Nakatani, throwing down the gauntlet, and said "Nakatani, let's liven up boxing at the Tokyo Dome around this time next year," with Nakatani replying "Yes, let's do it.". The moment seemed to catch Tokyo Dome CEO Yoshikazu Kitahara off guard, before he added that the moment was a "pleasant surprise,"
At a press conference following the awards ceremony Inoue explained "If we both continue to produce results, next year, a fight that will surely come to fruition is waiting. I want to overcome it. It will be the biggest Japanese showdown in the history of Japanese boxing." Nakatani went on to say "After Inoue told me that, I was able to imagine it more concretely. I need to improve more. I will do my best in each fight against Inoue, so that people can live up to their expectations."
Speaking about 2024 Nakatani went on to say "I fought three times last year and was able to finish all with KOs.I didn't take any damage and it was a fulfilling experience.I was able to perform in a way that got me closer to my ideal in order to become a triple-division champion.I was able to raise everyone's opinion of me even more.”
Of course these wasn’t the only talking point from the awards, with WBA Bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-3, 8) [堤聖也], who won a special award and being recognised along with his trainer, seemingly being called out for a rematch with Inoue’s brother, Takuma Inoue (20-2, 5) [井上拓真]. Inoue is one of two men who seemed to want a rematch with Tsutsumi, with Japanese Bantamweight champion Riku Masuda (7-1, 7) [増田 陸], who won the Newcomer award, also making it clear he wanted a fight with Tsutsumi.
Notably it appears that Naoya Inoue’s team are putting pieces in place for the next year of fights, with a planned bout in May against Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14), the plan is then for Inoue to fight in Japan against WBA mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10), with Eddie Hearn saying talks for this bout were already underway. There is then a planned December bout, likely in Saudi Arabia, against a yet to be confirmed opponent, though WBA Featherweight champion Nick Ball (22-0-1, 13) is said to be the most likely opponent, before toe aforementioned Nakatani super fight in Spring 2026.
The men in question were undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25) [井上尚弥] and WBC Bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (30-0, 23) [中谷 潤人], who each picked up honours during the event, with Inoue winning the Best Boxer award for the 8th time.
Whilst on the stage Inoue issued the challenge to Nakatani, throwing down the gauntlet, and said "Nakatani, let's liven up boxing at the Tokyo Dome around this time next year," with Nakatani replying "Yes, let's do it.". The moment seemed to catch Tokyo Dome CEO Yoshikazu Kitahara off guard, before he added that the moment was a "pleasant surprise,"
At a press conference following the awards ceremony Inoue explained "If we both continue to produce results, next year, a fight that will surely come to fruition is waiting. I want to overcome it. It will be the biggest Japanese showdown in the history of Japanese boxing." Nakatani went on to say "After Inoue told me that, I was able to imagine it more concretely. I need to improve more. I will do my best in each fight against Inoue, so that people can live up to their expectations."
Speaking about 2024 Nakatani went on to say "I fought three times last year and was able to finish all with KOs.I didn't take any damage and it was a fulfilling experience.I was able to perform in a way that got me closer to my ideal in order to become a triple-division champion.I was able to raise everyone's opinion of me even more.”
Of course these wasn’t the only talking point from the awards, with WBA Bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-3, 8) [堤聖也], who won a special award and being recognised along with his trainer, seemingly being called out for a rematch with Inoue’s brother, Takuma Inoue (20-2, 5) [井上拓真]. Inoue is one of two men who seemed to want a rematch with Tsutsumi, with Japanese Bantamweight champion Riku Masuda (7-1, 7) [増田 陸], who won the Newcomer award, also making it clear he wanted a fight with Tsutsumi.
Notably it appears that Naoya Inoue’s team are putting pieces in place for the next year of fights, with a planned bout in May against Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14), the plan is then for Inoue to fight in Japan against WBA mandatory challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10), with Eddie Hearn saying talks for this bout were already underway. There is then a planned December bout, likely in Saudi Arabia, against a yet to be confirmed opponent, though WBA Featherweight champion Nick Ball (22-0-1, 13) is said to be the most likely opponent, before toe aforementioned Nakatani super fight in Spring 2026.