Naoya Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani to defend his undisputed super-bantamweight crown at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday. This victory ended Nakatani’s perfect record of 32 fights.
The fight attracted a sell-out crowd of 55,000 fans. Inoue retained his WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO belts with scores of 116-112 from two judges and 115-113 from another.
Nakatani suffered his first professional defeat in this match. The fight was described as one of the biggest in Japanese boxing history.
Inoue’s performance showcased precise punches and smooth footwork. He is now recognized as a four-division champion.
Nakatani sustained a cut over his right eye due to a head clash during the bout. Both fighters entered the ring as undefeated pound-for-pound punchers.
Quotes:
Naoya Inoue: “He was a fighter with a strong heart. That’s what makes this win mean so much.” and Junto Nakatani: “I came prepared so there were no surprises, but the champion was great.”.
Inoue’s victory further cements his place at the top of the pound-for-pound list. The outcome of this match will likely influence future bouts in the super-bantamweight division.
