Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani throw down in front of 55000 fans at Tokyo Dome in Japan on May 2. The bout was widely seen as the biggest boxing match in Japanese history, and both fighters stood on the expectation.
Recently, the back-and-forth entertaining bout has drawn a reaction from WBO world super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
Inoue and Nakatani’s bout was a seesaw battle. The champion started strong in the early rounds, but the challenger made a serious comeback between the sixth and ninth rounds. A huge moment came in round ten when an accidental headbutt opened a cut on the 28-year-old.
From there, the reigning champion put pressure on and pulled out key rounds. The two delivered what fans were expecting, seeing two unbeaten fighters.
The fight went to the distance, and the judges scored the bout 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113 in favor of Naoya, who retained his undisputed super bantamweight titles and handed Nakatani his career-first defeat.
Stevenson was impressed by Inoue’s speed against Nakatani
After watching the fight, Stevenson quickly pointed out what stood out most to him, Inoue’s speed.
“Inoue fast asf, his speed hard to deal with,” Stevenson wrote on X.
Inoue fast asf his speed hard to deal with
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 4, 2026
His reaction highlights one of Inoue’s most dangerous attributes. Known for his explosiveness and timing, Inoue once again showcased why he is considered one of the most complete fighters in the sport.
Throughout the fight, Inoue used his quick combinations and sharp counters to control key moments, making it difficult for Nakatani to settle into a rhythm early on.
Despite praising Inoue, Stevenson also made sure to acknowledge Nakatani’s effort. He noted that both fighters performed well and delivered a competitive fight overall.
“I just watched Nakatani and Inoue fight too both fighters fought good I thought, Nakatani started too late but put up great effort.” Stevenson wrote on X.
I just watched Nakatani and Inoue fight too both fighters fought good I thought, Nakatani started too late but put up Great effort
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) May 4, 2026
The fight saw momentum swings, with both men having their moments. While Inoue’s sharpness gave him the edge in many exchanges, Nakatani showed resilience and continued to push forward.
Stevenson’s reaction adds to the broader conversation, as fans and fighters alike continue to break down a fight that could have lasting implications for the division.
Inoue reflects on strategy and praises Nakatani
Following the fight, in the post-fight press conference, Inoue praised his opponent’s quality.
“Nakatani is a Japanese, pound-for-pound fighter who has risen through the ranks,”
Inoue offered insight into his approach and revealed that he consciously decided to manage the fight strategically in the later rounds.
“I was fighting while checking the points with my team,” he said. “In rounds eight, nine, and 10, I thought it would be okay to give up a few points. I thought it would be alright to hold back a little.”
The undisputed champion talked about what’s next for him, asserted that he is not in the endgame of his career, and expressed a desire to achieve more in the sport.
“My boxing career isn’t at the end,” he said, when it came to what’s next for him. “We just finished the fight so I’ll make history more and more … there’s nothing I can say. I will discuss with Mr Ohashi my future plan so we will discuss. For me, it’s a blank slate.”
