Undisputed super-bantamweight titles retained by Inoue in Tokyo Dome clash
The bout, held during the Golden Week holiday period, saw the 33-year-old dominate after his opponent's vision was impaired by a head clash in the 10th round.
Naoya Inoue has successfully retained his undisputed super-bantamweight world titles against fellow Japanese boxer Junto Nakatani via unanimous decision at the Tokyo Dome. The contest, which took place on 2 May 2026, marked Inoue's 28th successive world title bout and his seventh successful defence of this specific unified championship.
The judges scored the fight 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113 in favour of the champion. Inoue, 33, extended his perfect professional record to 33 victories, with 27 of those wins coming inside the distance. This result cements his status as a four-division world champion who has held at least one title since 2014.
The narrative of the bout shifted significantly in the 10th round when Nakatani, 28, suffered a cut above his left eye following an accidental clash of heads. The injury impaired his vision and halted his momentum, allowing Inoue to seize control for the final two rounds. The 33-year-old utilised his vast ring IQ to find angles and attack the body, ultimately punctuating the fight with combinations in the closing stages.
Nakatani had moved up from the bantamweight division in December 2024 to challenge for the title, having previously held world titles in three divisions. Despite entering the match with identical records, the challenger was unable to bridge the distance effectively against Inoue's defensive strategy in the early frames. Former five-weight world champion Terence Crawford watched from ringside as the action unfolded.
The event drew a 55,000-strong crowd during the Golden Week holiday period. Inoue's younger brother, Takuma Inoue, also secured a victory on the undercard, defeating Kazuto Ioka to defend his WBC bantamweight title. Takuma urged the audience to maintain their support for his older sibling, who was roared to the ring amidst pyrotechnics.
Looking ahead, preliminary talks are reportedly underway for Inoue to move down to the bantamweight division to face Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez. The American fighter is set to make his bantamweight debut against Antonio Vargas on 13 June. Inoue, who has fought five times in the past 15 months, stated that he requires a rest following the intensive schedule.
