Boxing: Inoue Shoya Retains Unified Super Bantamweight Title in Tokyo Dome Clash

Professional boxer Inoue Shoya has successfully defended his unified super bantamweight title for the seventh time, securing victory over challenger Nakatani Junto by decision. The bout took place on the night of 2 May 2026 at the Tokyo Dome, marking a significant event in the Japanese professional boxing calendar.

The contest was framed as a clash of parity, with both competitors entering the match with identical undefeated records of 32 wins each. This statistical symmetry elevated the stakes of the encounter, described in initial reports as a "century battle" between two of the sport's most decorated athletes.

The title at stake was the four-belt unified super bantamweight championship, a designation indicating that the belt is simultaneously recognized by four major sanctioning bodies. By retaining the championship, Inoue Shoya maintained his status as a three-division world champion, having previously secured titles across three different weight classes.

The fight occurred during the Golden Week holiday period, drawing significant attention from the Japanese public and international observers alike. The venue, the Tokyo Dome, provided a massive stage for the event, underscoring the prominence of the athletes involved in the sporting narrative.

According to NHK News, the outcome was determined by judges' decision rather than a knockout, with Inoue Shoya emerging as the victor. The report confirms the result without detailing the specific round-by-round breakdown or the margin of victory, noting that the full analysis of the judges' scores was not included in the initial dispatch.

This victory extends Inoue Shoya's reign as the unified champion, reinforcing his position as a dominant figure in the super bantamweight division. The result stands as a definitive record of the night, cementing the historical significance of the matchup between the two undefeated Japanese boxers.