Highlights! Inoue Outduels Nakatani In Japanese Superfight

TL;DR

Naoya Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani in a super bantamweight title fight at Tokyo Dome on May 2, 2026. Both fighters entered the match undefeated, but Inoue's skill and power secured his victory after 12 rounds.

Key points

Naoya Inoue fought Junto Nakatani at Tokyo Dome
Both fighters entered the match with 32-0 records
Inoue won after 12 rounds of technical action
Inoue showcased his power and shot selection
Nakatani was unable to catch up in the later rounds

Mentioned in this story

Tokyo DomeTokyo

Naoya InoueJunto Nakatanisuper bantamweight championship

Naoya Inoue (L) fights Junto Nakatani during their super bantamweight championship boxing contest at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on May 2, 2026. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Two of the greatest Japanese boxers of all time collided in an undisputed super bantamweight title fight earlier this morning (Sat., May 2, 2026) LIVE on DAZN from inside the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, as pound-for-pound standout, Naoya Inoue, put his undefeated 32-0 record on the line against fellow countryman, Junto Nakatani, who also entered this weekend with a 32-0 record.

On paper, this is one of the best matchups boxing has to offer in 2026. Inoue has quickly become one of the best all-around boxers and knockout artists in the sport today, which makes his “Monster” moniker a perfectly-suitable nickname. His long-awaited matchup with Nakatani may have taken over a year to put together, but boxing fans finally got what they wished for on a jam-packed Cinco de Mayo weekend.

While this main event clash didn’t offer a finish it did provide fight fans 12 rounds of back-and-forth technical action. Nakatani did well to win some good rounds and stay dangerous with his power, but it was Inoue’s right hand and elite shot selection that ruled the way. Inoue even cut Nakatani mid-way through the title fight. The champ’s overall work early on allowed him to showcase his heralded power later down the stretch. Nakatani simply wasn’t able to catch up as Inoue walked away with another win and his pound-for-pound crown in tact.

Check out the video highlights below: