Inoue Kept His Undisputed Crown After Beating Nakatani
Naoya Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision on May 2, 2026, at Tokyo Dome, retaining his undisputed super bantamweight championship. The judges scored the twelve-round bout 116–112, 116–112 and 115–113.
A major all-Japanese title fight
Both fighters entered unbeaten, with Inoue defending his undisputed titles against former world champion Nakatani, creating one of the most anticipated matchups in Japanese boxing. Inoue defended the undisputed super bantamweight championship against Nakatani, who moved up to challenge him.
Nakatani had moments of success, especially in the later rounds, and pushed the champion through a demanding contest. Inoue’s speed, combination punching and distance control helped him win key exchanges.
The fight went the scheduled twelve rounds. No knockdown or stoppage decided the result; the judges determined the winner.
The scorecards kept Inoue on top
All three officials favored Inoue, though the margins were close. The decision preserved his undisputed status and added another defense against a highly regarded Japanese rival.
The WBC described the result as a retention of the undisputed super bantamweight crown. The Ring reported the official scores and noted how competitive the fight was across the full distance.
The result was a unanimous decision, not a knockout. The May 2 contest at Tokyo Dome was a defense of Inoue’s already-undisputed championship and a high-profile meeting between two of the country’s leading fighters.
