It appears we could possibly be one huge step, one big step, nearer to seeing the most important combat in Japanese boxing historical past come to fruition. 4-weight king Naoya Inoue, for a lot of the most effective fighter within the sport right now pound-for-pound, in opposition to Junto Nakatani, who has already conquered three weight divisions, subsequent yr. In brief, everybody needs to see this combat, and loads of followers really feel it’s a powerful combat to choose, as nice as “Monster” Inoue is.
Inoue spoke about what his countryman Nakatani has to do with a view to get the combat with him, and that will get previous get by, his brother, Takuma Inoue, who at present holds the WBA bantamweight title:
“Earlier than he strikes up [in weight] to combat me, he must combat my brother Takuma,” the 28-0(25) Inoue stated of Nakatani. “That’s not simple as a result of Takuma can be a really powerful opponent and a assume wall for Nakatani.”
And now, as per a tweet from Michael Benson, Nakatani, 28-0(21) has agreed to get it on with Takuma Inoue, together with his plan being to defeat him after which combat “Monster” Inoue subsequent yr a while.
“Junto Nakatani has welcomed Naoya Inoue’s problem to first combat his brother Takuma Inoue in a WBA & WBC bantamweight world title unification combat, then transfer up and combat him for the undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO tremendous bantamweight world titles,” Benson’s tweet reads.
That is nice information, and once more, it brings us an enormous step nearer to seeing the all-Japanese tremendous combat. First, although, southpaw Nakatani should come by his October 14 combat with Tasana Salapat, who is kind of unimaginable 76-1, whereas Takuma Inoue has to win his subsequent combat, set for the day earlier than on the Japanese pageant card, Inoue, 20-1(5) to defend in opposition to Seiya Tsutsumi, 11-0-2.
Whereas “Monster” Inoue will possible combat Sam Goodman subsequent, in December. However assuming issues fall into place the fitting approach, as in Nakatani beats Takuma Inoue and Naoya Inoue stays unbeaten (and he can be an enormous favorite over Goodman, little doubt), we might then get Inoue Vs. Nakatani someday in 2025.
And it could/can be large. Two excellent technicians, each feeling they’re the most effective, matching abilities, wits, energy, coronary heart, and need, possible in entrance of a monster crowd at a cavernous enviornment in Japan!
Inoue has been thrilling us for years, and he’s, for a lot of, the ‘excellent fighter.’ Nakatani, now on some P-4-P lists himself, has proven zero flaws as he has gone about his enterprise contained in the squared circle. Inoue has by no means fought anybody fairly like Nakatani, however Nakatani has by no means confronted anybody fairly as super-special as Inoue.
Can YOU probably choose a winner between these two fashionable greats?
