Ed Odeven 
Junto Nakatani (left) and Naoya Inoue attend the Japan Boxing Commission's annual awards banquet on March 31, 2025, in Tokyo. (©KYODO)
Read the full story on SportsLook - [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Boxing Stars Inoue and Nakatani Agree to Fight in 2026
Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani at Tokyo Dome in 2026 would be a monumental event for Japanese boxing.
The overhype machine operates 24/7 in boxing. In every decade, publicists, broadcasters, writers and fans proclaim any number of title bouts will be the Fight of the Century. Matching that type of hype is nearly impossible.
But a proposed Inoue-Nakatani showdown sometime next year has the makings of a super fight, one that captivates Japanese boxing fans ― and a global audience ― on a massive scale. And the proposed locale (Tokyo Dome) would be ideal for the occasion.
Undisputed super bantamweight champion Inoue (29-0, 26 knockouts) was named the Japan Boxing Commission Fighter of the Year for the seventh year in a row. He received the award on Monday night during the JBC's annual awards ceremony, which was held at Tokyo Dome Hotel.
On the same night, Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) took home accolades for Best Knockout of the Year and Best Technique.
In addition to their glitzy awards, Inoue and Nakatani made headlines for their words to one another at the ceremony.
Displaying a showman's promotional acumen, Inoue grabbed everyone's attention in the banquet room.
"I want to do the best I can this year for the big domestic match that lots of fans and people around the sport have been talking about," Inoue told the assembled crowd.
"Mr Nakatani, a year later at Tokyo Dome, let's lift the mood around Japanese boxing together."
How did Nakatani respond to "Monster" Inoue's challenge?
"Sure, let's do it," said the 29-year-old WBC bantamweight champion.
The Path to a Blockbuster Boxing Bout
What's next for Inoue?
His four super bantamweight titles will be put to the test against American challenger Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) on May 4 in Las Vegas.
If he defeats Cardenas, Inoue is slated to fight Uzbek veteran Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) on September 14 in Tokyo.
The year started off on a winning note for both Inoue and Nakatani.
On January 24, Inoue recorded a fourth-round knockout of South Korean Ye Joon Kim, a late injury replacement, at Tokyo's Ariake Arena.
Nakatani earned a third-round stoppage of Mexico's David Cuellar on February 24 at the same venue. The unbeaten champion's next fight has yet to be announced.
As for a potential showdown in 2026 with Nakatani, Inoue summed up his thoughts on the matter at the awards ceremony.
"If we can come through this year strongly, I believe it will be the most exciting bout between Japanese in the country's boxing history," Inoue declared.
Continue reading the full story, which includes news items on the Japanese Olympic Committee, golf, soccer and more, on SportsLook.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
