Naoya Inoue to defend undisputed title against Junto Nakatani in Tokyo

Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue will defend his titles against unbeaten compatriot Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome on 2 May.

The highly anticipated all-Japanese showdown was formally announced at a news conference in Japan following months of speculation.

It pits two of the sport’s most destructive punchers against one another, with both men entering the ring boasting perfect 32-0 records.

Battle of the pound-for-pound stars

‘The Monster’, widely regarded as the world’s second-best pound-for-pound fighter, enjoyed a stellar 2025 campaign.

Inoue competed four times last year, culminating in a unanimous decision victory over David Picasso in December.

Nakatani, currently ranked sixth in the pound-for-pound standings, is aiming to become a four-weight world champion.

The challenger previously held world titles at bantamweight, junior bantamweight and flyweight before moving up to the 122lb division.

He secured his shot at the undisputed crown with a gritty, tougher-than-expected win over Sebastian Hernandez on the same December card as his upcoming opponent.

Tokyo Dome stage set

This blockbuster event marks a significant return to the iconic Tokyo Dome, a venue reserved for only the most prestigious martial arts contests in Japan.

While domestic coverage has been confirmed on Lemino pay-per-view, broadcast rights for the United States have yet to be announced.

Family affair on the undercard

The main event will not be the only major title fight of the evening involving the Inoue family.

Naoya’s younger brother, Takuma Inoue, is set to defend his WBC bantamweight title against former four-division king Kazuto Ioka.