The undisputed super bantamweight champion, Naoya Inoue, has stirred great excitement among boxing fans by discussing his upcoming fight. During an event in Tokyo on October 21, Inoue, known as “The Monster,” acknowledged the desire of a young boxer to face him.
Regarding the potential fight, Inoue commented, “There’s a young fighter who wants to be number 1 in the Pound-for-Pound rankings. We just have to wait for him to rise.” In this way, Inoue referred to Junto Nakatani, the current WBC bantamweight world champion, leaving open the possibility of a future bout between them.
“If boxing fans are asking for it so much, I think I can mention it too,” Inoue added.
Likewise, Nakatani’s strength hasn’t gone unnoticed by Inoue, who praised the bantamweight world champion after his fight on October 14. “He’s strong, that’s why I’m interested,” Inoue said, acknowledging his compatriot’s skills.
It’s important to note that the fight between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani has not been confirmed yet.
However, Naoya Inoue’s recent statements have caused quite a stir. Nakatani, who successfully defended his title for the second time on October 14, currently ranks ninth in The Ring’s Pound-for-Pound rankings, while Inoue holds second place. Inoue praised his compatriot after his latest fight, saying, “He’s strong, that’s why I’m interested.”
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum mentioned in August his interest in organizing the fight for next year. However, Nakatani stated that he still has other commitments before facing Inoue. Meanwhile, Inoue is scheduled to fight in December against Sam Goodman, the number 1 ranked contender by the WBO and IBF. At the same time, former WBA champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev has expressed interest in facing Inoue in the near future.
On the other hand, Inoue seemed uncertain about a possible move to the featherweight division. “In 2026? I don’t know yet,” he commented, leaving the possibility open to exploring new weight classes in the coming years.
With Inoue’s current fight schedule, a bout with Nakatani may not happen until September or late 2025.
井上尚弥、中谷潤人戦を快諾「待つしかない」 取材中に自ら言及「強い。だから自分も興味ある」(THE ANSWER)https://t.co/G0cklkx8Ne
— 井上尚弥 Naoya Inoue (@naoyainoue_410) October 21, 2024
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