Inoue Steps In to Defend His Undisputed Throne – World Boxing Association

The boxing world will come to a halt this Saturday, May 2, as the Tokyo Dome plays host to what many are already calling the “Fight of the Century” for Japanese boxing. “The Monster,” Naoya Inoue, will put his WBA Super Championship and undisputed junior featherweight crown on the line against the unbeaten and rangy Junto Nakatani in a clash of epic proportions—pitting two of the sport’s pound-for-pound elite against one another.

At 33 years old, Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) enters the seventh defense of his undisputed reign at the absolute peak of his powers. Having already swept through two divisions, the Japanese superstar now faces a challenger who brings a set of physical tools he’s never had to deal with all at once: height, reach, and a highly polished southpaw stance. Fully aware of the magnitude of the challenge—on the very same stage where Mike Tyson shockingly lost his unbeaten record decades ago—Inoue made his mindset crystal clear: “There’s only one thing—I’m here to win,” the champion stated during the official press conference at the Tokyo Dome Hotel.

Across the ring, Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) is chasing history, aiming to capture a world title in a fourth weight class after reigning at light flyweight, flyweight, and bantamweight. Following a successful debut at 122 pounds last December, many analysts believe he possesses the exact style to trouble Inoue—thanks to his command of distance and his dangerous counter left hand. Despite entering as the underdog, Nakatani is far from overmatched.

Inoue will look to rely on his trademark explosiveness, vicious body hooks, and his uncanny ability to close distance in the blink of an eye. Nakatani, three inches taller with a reach advantage, will aim to establish a long jab to keep “The Monster” at bay while setting up his surgical left hand—a weapon that has caused Inoue real issues in past encounters with fellow southpaws.