A Junto Nakatani vs Takuma Inoue Showdown May Be Brewing
Japanese fighters Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs) and Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs) each hold a world title in the bantamweight division. Could they be on a collision course to what would be a unification battle?
They fought on the same card on February 24 in Tokyo, Japan. In the main event, Inoue successfully defended the WBA title with a ninth-round stoppage over former junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas. Nakatani captured the WBC belt on the undercard with a dominant sixth-round stoppage over Alexandro Santiago.
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At a press conference on February 25 in Japan, Nakatani was asked about a potential fight with Inoue. The newly-crowned WBC champion said that matchup is under consideration.
Inoue wants to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Naoya, and become the undisputed champion at 118. Nakatani is a three-division champion and feels he’s among the best in the lower-weight divisions. The 26-year-old believes he beats anyone from 115 to 118 pounds.
A BATTLE OF HOMETOWN CHAMPIONS
Unification fights are always a good thing for the sport. Nakatani versus Inoue would be a massive fight in Japan. It would also draw the interest of American fight fans. Their last four outings were aired live on ESPN Plus.
If Inoue and Nakatani keep winning, it only builds momentum. The calls would only increase for them to fight one another. Since Nakatani has publicly said that a fight with Inoue is on his mind, it will soon become a hot topic in Japan and among hardcore fans worldwide.
Potential fights like this take time to develop. So, it’s not likely to happen immediately. Both men will have to make mandatory defenses before the end of this year. But a battle between them in early 2025 is a definite possibility.
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