Latest news with #NaoyaInoue
Japan Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Junto Nakatani remains on collision course with Naoya Inoue after latest win
When Junto Nakatani stepped into the ring to face Ryosuke Nishida with each man's bantamweight world title hanging in the balance, he also had to contend with an unseen force whose presence was felt almost as heavily as the punches the boxers traded for six rounds. Naoya Inoue was not in the ring at Ariake Coliseum on Sunday night — although he was in the front row watching from behind a pair of sunglasses — but he might as well have been. The specter of the 'Monster' clings to Nakatani these days, lurking behind every corner and lingering over every sparring session, every fight and every meeting with the media. Nakatani does not only carry the weight of world titles on his shoulders but also the pressure to hold up his end of the bargain on the road to a blockbuster showdown against Inoue that looms larger each time one of them steps in the ring. Nakatani took another step toward what could be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history by defeating Nishida via sixth-round TKO in an entertaining bout that saw him successfully defend his WBC bantamweight world title and take the IBF belt off Nishida to unify the title. After it was over, Nakatani, who improved to 31-0 with 24 knockouts, had a message for Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion. 'I'll be there soon, so please wait for me,' said a smiling Nakatani, who would have to move to a higher weight class to face Inoue. Inoue responded later Sunday night. 'Welcome to the super bantamweight division,' he wrote on his X account. 'I would be excited to see such a strong Japanese fighter.' Junto Nakatani punches Ryosuke Nishida during the second round of their title fight. | JIJI There is still a long way to go and hurdles to clear before the superstars can meet — both say a fight could happen in May 2026 — but Nakatani cleared a potentially tricky hurdle with his victory over the previously unbeaten Nishida. Nakatani and Nishida (10-1) went at each other from the opening bell as the crowd roared in approval. Nakatani said later his strategy was to surprise Nishida by closing the distance between them and taking the fight to him early. 'We decided as a team to try and inflict damage on him from the first round,' Nakatani said. Nakatani is known as 'Big Bang,' and true to his name he landed some big blows early with sweeping overhand lefts and uppercuts. Nishida, though, was up for the fight and found success with some counterpunches. 'We're exceptionally proud of his fighting spirit and the skills he exhibited last night against a truly elite operator in this era,' Mike Altamura told The Japan Times. Altamura is a well-respected boxing manager and adviser who has brought many international fighters to Japan and sometimes works with Muto Boxing Gym, which serves as Nishida's base. Nakatani's fusillade of heavy punches caused Nishida's right eye to swell early, and the WBC champion started to focus his attacks there. During the fifth round, the ringside doctor examined Nishida's eye, which was heavily swollen by that point. The fight did not last much longer, as Nishida also suffered a dislocated shoulder and could not continue after the sixth round. Inoue watched it all unfold from his ringside seat. 'I knew he was in the crowd,' Nakatani said. 'It's important to take one fight at a time, and if I perform well, the expectations for bigger fights will grow. I want to do my best.' Naoya Inoue walks to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Cubs and Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 18. | Imagn Images / VIA REUTERS A potential showdown between Inoue, No. 2 in Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound rankings, and Nakatani, who is No. 7, is one of the most highly anticipated fights on the horizon. Inoue is 30-0 with 27 KOs and has left a trail of destruction and battered boxers in his wake. He is the complete package of skills, brains and overwhelming power. No one has been able to stand against him, and only three of his fights have gone the distance. Some think Nakatani can be the man who finally slays the 'Monster.' The left-handed knockout artist has 24 KOs on his resume, including his win over Nishida. He is a three-weight champion and has defended his WBC belt four times since winning it in February 2024. 'Nakatani is an outstanding talent,' Altamura said. 'He has evolved and developed so many layers to his fighting craft throughout the years. He's a fast, smooth boxing technician but also possesses a savage streak and an adaptability to change tempos and commit to taking educated risks if he senses potential openings in opponents. 'I think the Inoue-Nakatani contest has to be considered one of the best current showdowns in world boxing, and it's challenging to think of a more high-stakes all-Japanese contest in history.' Rather than shy away from talk of a potential bout against Inoue, Nakatani has embraced it. Noting the way Inoue thundered back after being knocked down for the first time in his career by Luis Nery in May 2024 and then by Ramon Cardenas last month, Nakatani told Ring Magazine that if he knocks down Inoue, 'I have to make sure that he doesn't get back up.' Nakatani also agreed with his trainer that it would be better to fight Inoue sooner than later, while the superstar boxer is still at the height of his powers, and Nakatani could receive full credit for beating him. Inoue, by far the more high-profile fighter in terms of star power, also has Nakatani in his sights. "If we can come through this year strongly, I believe it will be the most exciting bout between Japanese in the country's boxing history," Inoue said during an awards ceremony both attended in March, according to Kyodo News. Fans can only hope both fighters keep winning until they inevitably meet. 'Nakatani took some risks early last night that I couldn't imagine him taking offensively against Inoue,' Altamura said. 'I perceive that fight may be highly technical, watchful in the initial stages as both men figure out the potential openings and adapt to one another's movements. "But both combatants possess very offensive-minded mentalities, and there will be fireworks eventually. Inoue, I feel, adjusts exceptionally well to each opponent. He figures out the punch selection and range which suits his artillery, then gradually will increase his punching output and intent. Inoue is the heavier handed between the two, and so Nakatani will need to be tactically aware to not stand too long in exchanges. "Currently, I favor Inoue, though I am genuinely curious to see how Nakatani may potentially level up and make tactical defensive adjustments against somebody as strong and technically adept as Inoue. It's a mouthwatering contest, truly.'
The Sun
08-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Boxer Ryosuke Nishida pulled out of title fight after suffering grotesquely swollen eye against Junto Nakatani
RYOSUKE NISHIDA was pulled out of his title fight against Junto Nakatani after suffering a grotesquely swollen eye. Nishida put his IBF bantamweight title on the line against WBA champion Nakatani in Tokyo. 4 But after just six rounds, the thudding left hands and uppercuts from Nakatani proved too much for Nishida. Halfway through the bout, Nishida's eye was swollen shut to leave the doctor with no choice but to pull him out. Three-weight champ Nakatani said: 'Ever since I was at flyweight, I wanted to unify the titles. 'Finally at bantamweight, I received my first opportunity and I am very happy with the result.' Japan's unified super-bantamweight king Naoya Inoue was ringside to watch Nakatani's dominance. And a blockbuster between the country's two biggest stars is now being touted. Nakatani said: 'I am coming, so please stick around for me." Inoue's promoter Bob Arum previously stated the fight - eyed for May 2026 - could be as big as Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford. Arum said: 'A lot of people say Nakatani is the guy that could beat Inoue. That's why it's such a big fight. That's a real, real fight. "People who really know and follow those lower weight divisions, they think that's as interesting a fight, if not more so, than Canelo and Crawford. "And it'll be the biggest fight ever in the history of Japan.' 4 4
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Angelo Leo Vs. Tomoki Kameda Fight Results And Fight Card Results
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 18: Angelo Leo stands alongside Aaron Alameda during their weigh in ahead of ... More their Super Bantamweight fight at Toyota Center on June 18, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by) Angelo Leo successfully defended his IBF featherweight championship with a majority decision victory (116-112, 115-113, and 114-114) over Tomoki Kameda in Osaka, Japan. Kameda, an Osaka native, put up a strong effort. The challenger displayed fast hands, earning the champion's respect in the midst of several spirited exchanges. However, while most of the rounds were hard-fought, competitive, and tough frames to score, I scored the fight for Leo. The champion did a great job establishing his jab, and he seemed to have better cardio in the championship rounds. The burst through the 11th and 12th rounds appeared to be the difference on one scorecard, and it likely pushed one judge to a draw. Here is a look at my scorecard. Leo vs. Kameda – Scorecard R1: 10-9 | R2: 10-9 | R3: 10-9 | R4: 10-9 | R5: 9-10 | R6: 9-10 | R7: 10-9 | R8: 10-9 | R9: 9-10 | R10: 9-10 | R11: 10-9 | R12: 10-9 Final Score: Leo 116 – Kameda 112 Leo told the fans in Osaka that he was looking forward to fighting in Japan again later in his career. That fight could happen against Japanese legend and pound-for-pound contender Naoya Inoue. There has been talk of Inoue moving up to featherweight, and Leo has been mentioned as a potential opponent. Leo is co-promoted by ProBox TV and Top Rank. Inoue has a deal with the latter, so it should be an easy fight to make from a business standpoint. Leo performing in Japan would only help him establish a larger footprint in Inoue's home country. Keep an eye on a potential development through the rest of 2025, but more likely in 2026, if both champions continue to win. Shifting gears a bit, there was a troubling scene in the ring following the co-main event. After a hard-fought battle with Pedro Taduran, Ginjiro Shigeoka appeared to collapse in his corner and was stretchered out of the arena. Taduran retained his title via split decision, but immediately after the fight, attention and concerns shifted to Shigeoka's well-being. As of 6 am ET, there were no reports on Shigeoka's condition. Best wishes go out to him and his family as I hope he makes a complete recovery from any injuries he suffered in the loss to Taduran.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Top Aussie boxer reveals why he stole a VERY common item from Coles
Luckless Australian boxer Sam Goodman might have hit the jackpot after reviving his flagging fortunes with a unanimous points win over Mexican Cesar Vaca in Sydney. Goodman improved his unbeaten record to 20-0 with a dominant performance at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night that could propel the 26-year-old into a blockbuster world title shot in the US. But after the fight, Goodman opened up on the hardships he has faced in the past few months, revealing that he had once resorted to missing out on stealing dog food from Coles. The 26-year-old fighter had closed on a house situated on the Central Coast prior to his scheduled fight with Naoya Inoue on Christmas Eve in Japan. However, the Aussie fighter suffered a cut to his eye following an accident in training and was forced to withdraw from the bout, which had been rescheduled for January 24. He required four stitches but was forced to pull out of the second bout, after the cut reopened with the fight being cruelly snatched away from him. Goodman was due to make over one million dollars following the fight. But the devastated fighter spiralled into financial peril after being forced to pull out. 'I've had to steal dog food from Coles, so there's a headline for ya! My dog wasn't eating if I didn't,' he told Code Sports following the bout. 'Mate, I was flat out f***ing broke. I mean not a dollar. 'Home loans coming out my a***, snipping everyone I know, borrowing money off this person, off that person. 'Mate, it has been f***ing hell. I've had to rely on some people around me to help get me through this and, mate, if I didn't have 'em, I'd be f***ed.' Goodman's team will now petition for the world's top-ranked IBF super-bantamweight fighter to be the mandatory challenger to face superstar Inoue. He might even wind up on the same card as his No Limit stablemate Tim Tszyu's showstopper rematch with Sebastian Fundora in Las Vegas in July or August. 'I want the shot at Inoue, I want my chance,' he added. 'I'm not saying he's dodging or anything like that. 'What happened to me, it was s***, it was terrible.' Some had accused him of ducking out of the fight himself. But he pointed to how he had been left crippled financially, following the decision to pull out. 'People are saying I'm ducking and dodging, but mate, that has financially f***ed me,' he added. 'It crippled me for six months of my life. 'Honestly, the stress that has been put on me and my family, it's massive.' The boxer, who hails from Albion Park, New South Wales, faced losing the million-dollar home he bought late last year if he'd lost on Wednesday night. He finished the high-stakes encounter with cuts around both eyes and was left suitably relieved to have survived without sustaining any more serious damage. 'It was a punch that got me with this one and then, f***, it was a beauty of a head butt that got me over here,' Goodman said after being awarded the contest 99-92, 99-91, 100-90 by the three judges. 'So the next two rounds were about managing to get through it and winning the fight. 'It was all about being smart the whole fight and getting that momentum back on the road to world titles.'
Kyodo News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Boxing: Inoue 2nd, Nakatani, Teraji in Ring's pound-for-pound ranking
KYODO NEWS - 15 hours ago - 15:43 | Sports, All Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue remained second in Ring magazine's pound-for-pound ranking released Wednesday as compatriots Junto Nakatani and Kenshiro Teraji also made the top 10. Inoue extended his perfect career record to 30-0 after the undisputed super bantamweight world champion defeated American challenger Ramon Cardenas via an eighth-round technical knockout on Sunday in Las Vegas, securing his 27th KO win. Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBC and WBO heavyweight champion with a 23-0 record and 14 KOs, topped the ranking. WBA super welterweight champion Terence Crawford of the United States, 41-0 with 31 KOs, placed third. WBC bantamweight champion Nakatani, who like Inoue has a 30-0 record with 23 KOs, was ranked seventh. The pair has verbally agreed to fight each other next year. WBA and WBC flyweight champion Teraji, 25-1 with 16 KOs, sat ninth in the ranking, which hypothetically compares the strength of boxers from different weight classes. Related coverage: Boxing: "Monster" Inoue TKOs Cardenas to retain 4 super bantam belts Boxing: Inoue reveals plan to win 5th division ahead of Cardenas bout Boxing: "Monster" Naoya Inoue aims to make big impact in U.S.
