Naoya Inoue Acknowledges Young Challenger Junto Nakatani: Exciting Future Fights Ahead
Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion, has sparked excitement among boxing fans by discussing his upcoming fight prospects. At an event in Tokyo on October 21, Inoue, known as “The Monster,” acknowledged a young boxer’s desire to face him.
“There’s a young fighter who wants to be number 1 in the Pound-for-Pound rankings. We just have to wait for him to rise,” Inoue stated, alluding to Junto Nakatani, the current WBC bantamweight champion, hinting at a potential future bout between them.
“If boxing fans are asking for it so much, I think I can mention it too,” he added, recognizing the buzz surrounding this matchup.
Inoue has praised Nakatani’s strength, remarking after Nakatani’s fight on October 14, “He’s strong, that’s why I’m interested.” Currently ranked ninth in The Ring’s Pound-for-Pound rankings, Nakatani recently defended his title for the second time. Meanwhile, Inoue holds the second spot in the rankings.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum expressed interest in organizing the Inoue-Nakatani fight for next year, but Nakatani noted he has other commitments before taking on Inoue. In the meantime, Inoue is set to fight Sam Goodman, the number 1 ranked contender by the WBO and IBF, in December.
Inoue also seemed uncertain about a potential move to the featherweight division, saying, “In 2026? I don’t know yet,” leaving open the possibility of exploring new weight classes in the future. Given Inoue’s current fight schedule, a bout with Nakatani may not materialize until September or late 2025.
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