Inoue welcomes Nakatani to super bantamweight after TKO win
Naoya Inoue welcomes Junto Nakatani to the super bantamweight division after the latter posted a technical knockout (TKO) win on Sunday.
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INOUE WELCOMES NAKATANI TO SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT AFTER WIN OVER NISHIDA
Inoue welcomes Nakatani to the super bantamweight division after the latter’s TKO win ver Ryosuke Nishida at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.
Furthermore, Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) was at the front row to witness Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) take out Nishida (13-1) to unite the World Boxing Council (WBC) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight belts.
Moreover, the fighter known as “Monster” made the statement after learning that Nakatani is moving up in weight after the fight.
“Welcome to the super bantamweight division,” Inoue wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in Japanese.
“It would be exciting to see such a strong Japanese fighter (Nakatani),” he added.
JUNTO ASKS ‘MONSTER TO ‘STICK AROUND FOR ME’
Nakatani asked Inoue to “stick around for me” moments after his latest victory.
Moreover, the 27-year-old southpaw has raised his mark to 10-0 in title fighs at flyweight, junior bantamweight and bantamweight.
Furtherore, Nakatani’s latest victory follows up his sixth-round knockout of Alexandro Santiago in Tokyo on February 24.
Nakatani quickly addressed Inoue’s presence at ringside regarding their possible all-Japanese megafight.
“I am coming, so please stick around for me,” Nakatai said in Japanese as translated by Mizuka Koike.
MEGA-FIGHT POSSIBLE IN EARLY 2026; INOUE STILL TO TAKE ON AKHMADALIEV
An Inoue-Nakatani mega-fight can only be possible by early 2026, with promoters looking at a May fight.
Furthermore, Inoue still has to defend his undisputed 122lbs title against interim WBA titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev on September 14.
Moreover, the venue for “Monster’s” next fight in Japan has yet to be determined.
There’s an option for Inoue to fight for a fourth time after the Akhmadaliev bout.
This, or he will wait for early 2026.
Should Nakatani stay at bantamweight for one more fight, he may have to take on mandatory challenger Jose Salas of Mexico next.
