WBC world bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani looks to leave no stone unturned ahead of a potential showdown with Naoya Inoue in 2026.
The pair now find themselves on a somewhat turbulent collision course, hoping that each twist and turn will lead them towards an all-Japanese mega fight.
But first, the two decorated pound-for-pound stars must take care of business in their respective next assignments, keeping hopes of seeing their blockbuster clash alive.
For Nakatani, 30-0 (23 KOs), an intriguing unification with IBF titlist Ryosuke Nishida represents the next step, with both unbeaten champions wishing to reign supreme at 118lbs.
Their dustup will be staged at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, on June 8, presenting ‘Big Bang’ with an opportunity to extend his ruthless surge of stoppages.
The 27-year-old’s overhand left, in particular, is widely regarded as one of the most potent weapons belonging to any fighter, not least an elite-level operator.
It was, after all, the exact shot that saw Nakatani produce an iconic, and equally stunning, 12th-round finish against Andrew Moloney in 2023.
What is more, an overhand left just so happened to be what floored Inoue, 30-0 (27 KOs) – and forced him to climb off the canvas – in his last outing against Ramon Cardenas.
Not only that, but the super-bantamweight king was dropped by another left hand, this one a looping hook, against Luis Nery last year.
Both times, of course, ‘The Monster’ found a typically ferocious finish inside the distance while, at the same time, revealing just a brief glimpse of his vulnerability.
But even so, Nakatani knows full well that it would take more than an overhand left – his signature shot – to dispatch Inoue.
“That’s just one aspect of looking at it,” Nakatani told Boxing News. “I don’t know which punch will connect when I fight Inoue, but I can’t be dependent on just one punch.
“I have to prepare my arsenal, in many different ways, to beat Inoue.”
Providing that Inoue gets past Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, and possibly a mooted clash with Nick Ball several months later, a tentatively planned matchup against Nakatani – who must remain in the win column, too – should then arrive next year.
