Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue prepares to defend four world titles against Junto Nakatani in Tokyo super fight
CBS Sports analysis suggests a unanimous decision victory for Inoue, though Nakatani's southpaw stance and reach present tactical challenges
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue is set to defend his four world titles against former three-division champion Junto Nakatani in a super fight scheduled for Saturday in Tokyo. The bout marks a significant clash between two pound-for-pound elites, with Inoue holding the No. 1 ranking and Nakatani ranked No. 8.
According to CBS Sports, the main event is supported by a co-main event featuring Inoue's brother, Takuma, who will defend his WBC bantamweight title against Kazuto Ioka. The card represents a high-calibre pairing of Japanese superstars that CBS Sports notes seems to be flying somewhat under the radar compared to other major matchups.
Inoue has successfully defended his current four world titles six times, with four of those victories coming by knockout. His ascent to the top of the sport involved moving through weight classes, culminating in his undisputed status after a stoppage of Paul Butler and subsequent wins over Marlon Tapales and Stephen Fulton.
Nakatani, who recently moved up in weight classes, defeated opponents including Andrew Moloney, Alexandro Santiago, and Ryosuke Nishida to establish his credentials as a true elite in the sport. His journey included capturing the WBO junior bantamweight title and later adding the WBC and IBF belts.
Analysis from CBS Sports indicates that while Inoue is expected to edge out the fight via unanimous decision, the contest is predicted to be competitive. Experts suggest Nakatani holds key advantages, including length and a southpaw stance, which could exploit Inoue's vulnerability to left hooks.
Inoue's strategy involves a renewed commitment to body attacks to close distance and bring Nakatani's hands down, a tactic that could neutralise the challenger's reach advantage. As long as Inoue can work his way inside, analysts believe he remains the better close-quarters boxer.
The odds for the event are described as wider than they should be, reflecting market uncertainty despite the high calibre of the fighters. CBS Sports maintains that a blowout is unlikely, with the consensus leaning towards a hard-fought victory for Inoue.
