A tactical chess match erupted into a late firefight as undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue retained his WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles via unanimous decision over Junto Nakatani. The final scorecards read 116-112, 115-113, and 116-112, all in favor of Inoue.
“The Monster” initially struggled with Nakatani’s length and awkward southpaw stance, but Inoue began finding his rhythm in Round 3 with his trademark explosive combinations and sudden offensive bursts. “Big Bang” Nakatani started to shift the momentum in the eighth round, blasting Inoue with several sharp volleys that temporarily stalled the champion’s attack. The momentum continued in Nakatani’s favor through the ninth and tenth rounds until a clash of heads opened a nasty cut that derailed his surge.
Round 11 saw Inoue regain control as blood poured from the gash and the Japanese superstar unleashed riveting combinations punctuated by crushing uppercuts. The No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world for 2026, Inoue improved to 33-0 (27 KOs) with the victory. Nakatani suffered the first defeat of his career, falling to 32-1 (24 KOs).
ESPN2NEWS boxing predictions page followers cashed in big on Inoue by decision at +175, with dime bettors collecting a cool $17,500. Inoue reportedly earned between $12 million and $20 million for the historic showdown, while Nakatani took home an estimated $4 million to $8 million.