Naoya Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision in their super bantamweight championship fight on May 2, 2026, at Tokyo Dome. The official scorecards were 116-112, 115-113, and 116-112.
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
Watch Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani full fight video highlights from their boxing main event showdown Saturday morning, courtesy of multiple outlets.
Inoue vs. Nakatani took place May 2 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Naoya Inoue (33-0) and Junto Nakatani (32-1) squared off in the main event clash. The fight aired live on DAZN pay-per-view.
Official result: Naoya Inoue def. Junto Nakatani (116-112, 115-113, 116-112)
For more on Inoue vs. Nakatani, check out the live blog below.
Round 1:
What an awesome final faceoff! Pumped for this one. We are off and the crowd is as excited as you’ll hear for a sporting event in the Tokyo Dome. Both men staying measured. Inoue landed a jab early, but patience is the key. Both men standing in the center, Nakatani with a jab to the body, and another to the head. Inoue marching forward and lands a thunderous right hand.
Lots of feints from Inoue, and in a shocking developement, DAZN had a technical issue (for only the 11th time in a three-fight main card). But we’re back, Inoue lands a decent shot, but not much, overall happened. Leaning the champ.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue
Round 2:
There is a super tense feeling, and it’s fun to see. Good left hand from Inoue, then shifts to the body. They clinch in, Inoue looking for his place to pounce. Nakatani is going to have to start picking things up, because going uphill against Inoue is going to be very difficult.
A couple of nice jabs to the body from Inoue, Nakataini lands a jab of his own with a minute to go. Beautiful right hook to the body from Inoue. Clapper sounds, more tech issues from DAZN, and Inoue lands a jab to cap it.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 20-18 overall
Round 3:
Two very close rounds, let’s see if someone will make a move here. Nakatani remaining supremely cautious, and Inoue happy to oblige. Hey, guess what? Another tech issue from DAZN, it’s wild how much this has happened throughout the card.
Back to it now that we can actually see the fight, and Inoue with a nasty body shot. Inoue continues using what has been successful, and starting to open up more to take the third.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 30-27 overall
Round 4:
While Inoue is picking it up, Nakatani hasn’t done very much outside of taking part. Nakatani does land a jab, but he needs more to get some sort of respect from Inoue.
Halfway through the round and Inoue counters with a right body shot, Nakatani chucks a right hand that wasn’t close to landing. Inoue misses with a pair of rights, jab grazes Nakatani, but Inoue nails him with a combo that was the best of the fight.
Nakatani trying to defend himself a touch, but while competitive, he’s likely down four rounds now.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 40-36 overall
Round 5:
Sneaky counter jab from Inoue to start the fifth, then finds a combo. Nakatani needs to lead the dance here, but he’s just getting dinged, and then swinging and missing. Jab, and another from Inoue, and a short shot to the body from one of the best on the planet.
Inoue lands a cheeky right hand, and another, and the separation space is getting much, much wider as the rounds go on. All Inoue in Round 5.
Final minute of the round, good rip to the body from Inoue followed by a jab. A couple of short body shots thrown from Nakatani, but Inoue kept his elbows perfectly in place. Nakatani finally lands something of any sort of significance with 10 seconds left in the round, but clear Inoue round.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 50-45 overall
Round 6:
A lot of swings and misses early, but it’s Inoue holding the center of the ring and making some dents. First half of the round, Inoue with the technical prowess.
Nakatani throws some aggression with the left, but he’s falling behind. Now he’s starting to get something going, but he needs a big statement to steal it. Nakatani’s confidence grows slightly, but Inoue, in my eyes, edges it out.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 60-54 overall
Round 7:
Left hand from Inoue to start the round, but good counter combination from Nakatani. He’s flowing a bit more. Inoue to the body and head with the jabs, and another quick counter jab from Inoue.
Nakatani moves forward with a combination. Nasty stick and move jab from Inoue, and another. Good sweeping left hand from Inoue as he’s shifted things in his favor. Jab to the body — almost looked low — from Inoue, but we press on. Nakatani tries to club to the body, but Inoue was ready.
Final 20 seconds and Inoue lands another nice combination to take another round. Don’t let the score fool you: Outside of a couple of rounds, this has been very competitive.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 70-63 overall
Round 8:
Nakatani lands a right hand, Inoue chucks out about a seven-punch combo. Nakatani tries to answer, and business is picking up. Really nice left hook from Nakatani. Inoue with a jab, and another, and another! The third of which was the best of the bunch.
Nakatani charges in with a left hook, and just misses a huge uppercut. Inoue answers with some quick shots. Final minute of the round. Inoue with a jab, Nakatani lands a jab of his own. Good scrappy round with Nakatani using his size a bit more. Another close round, but Inoue takes it.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 80-72 overall
Round 9:
Inoue is just so, so good. Nakatani has been working to try and get any kind of shift, and while he gets close to the door, the Inoue jab pushes him back.
Inoue comes up shorts with a couple of jabs. Nakatani with a nice left hand, Inoue answers with a jab. Both men throw jabs, Inoue looks like he’s taking his foot off the gas, but Nakatani is taking full advantage. By far, his best round as he’s landing some longer, more confident shots. Shutout no more on my card.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Nakatani, 89-82 overallfor Inoue
Round 10:
Nakatani marches right out with a big left hand and another to the body. Inoue trying to box, while Nakatani trying to brawl some more. Inoue lands a nice jab, and a right hook, but Nakatani getting after it. He’s chucking them hard, and had he done this a few rounds earlier, who knows where this fight would be?
Inoue now marching forward, but Nakatani is back to being the aggressor, pushing Inoue against the corner. And now we have a clash of heads and Nakatani is busted open near the right eye. Oh that’s tough. Doctor taking a look and clears him.
Back to it and Nakatani charges forward. DAZN doesn’t put the clock on screen so no clue how much time is left. Nakatani is hammering away, the hooks especially finding the mark. Nasty combo from Inoue to close it out. Nakatani wins another.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Nakatani, 98-92 overallfor Inoue
Round 11:
Again, the scoring doesn’t explain how close this fight actually is. Inoue starting to land early, and Inoue lands the best punch of the fight — a thunderous right hand. Nakatani battling back. Both men swinging and missing.
Nakatani throwing, some landed, some blocked. Inoue with a clean jab. Sneaky uppercut from Inoue to pull away a little more in the 11th. Inoue starting to feel it as he’s picking on the cut eye. Very strong bounce back for Inoue.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 108-101 overallfor Inoue
Round 12:
Inoue, feeling like things may have gotten away late, is looking like a man on fire. Nakatani trying to be aggressive, but Inoue did as well. Lots of combinations, mixing in a lot of uppercuts and hooks, Inoue looks fantastic.
Final seconds, Nakatani trying to pull off a miracle, but not to be.
MMAFighting scores it 10-9 Inoue, 118-110 overallfor Inoue
