Big Fight Set for 2026: Inoue and Nakatani Shine
Japanese boxing stars Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are gearing up for one of the most anticipated matches of 2026 after both secured victories on Saturday.
Inoue Dominates Picasso
Inoue, the undisputed junior featherweight champion with a record of 32-0 and 27 KOs, showcased his skills against David Picasso, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111 at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nakatani’s Challenging Victory
Earlier in the night, Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) made a strong debut at junior featherweight, overcoming a tough match and beating Sebastian Hernandez via unanimous decision with scores of 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110.
Setting the Stage for a Historic Matchup
The upcoming clash between Inoue and Nakatani promises to be a historic event in Japanese boxing, featuring two unbeaten champions vying for Inoue’s 122-pound title belts. Despite Inoue’s lack of a knockout against Picasso, his dominant performance sets the scene for what is being called the first megafight of 2026.
Inoue Reflects on His Performance
At 32, Inoue, a champion across four weight classes, defended his junior featherweight title for the seventh time. Though he won, he expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, indicating that he could improve further. “I’m really tired, so I would love to rest for a while,” he admitted.
Nakatani Survives the Challenge
Nakatani’s bout was a hard-fought contest, finishing with a swollen right eye. He described the experience as valuable, stating, “It was a great learning experience for me,” and expressed eagerness to challenge Inoue next. This year has been fruitful for Nakatani, as he previously achieved notable victories over Ryosuke Nishida and David Cuellar Contreras.
Garcia’s Illness Alters Title Fight Plans
In other news, IBF world junior bantamweight champion Willibaldo Garcia had to pull out of his title defense against Kenshiro Teraji after falling ill post-weigh-in. No replacement was available, marking a missed opportunity for Teraji.
