These photos from the Inoue vs Nakatani fight week early already show the buzz around Tokyo and the sheer size of the fight in Asia.
It is a big in America and the West of course too.
A clash of two modern small titans in the lower weight classes and a Japanese civil war of sorts between two of the country’s premier boxers.
These speak for themselves in Tokyo so far this week:
Here are 10 facts showing how huge Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani is in Japan this week:
- Biggest fight in Japanese boxing history – Promoters, media, and fighters themselves are calling it the biggest all-Japanese bout ever
- Tokyo Dome sold out – The 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome is already packed to the brim a month before fight night
- Only the 4th boxing event at Tokyo Dome ever – Previous fights there were Tyson vs Douglas 1990 and Inoue vs Nery 2024
- Shown in 116 cinemas across Japan – For fans who can’t get Dome tickets, it’s playing live in theaters nationwide
- Free-to-air in Japan on Lemino – While DAZN has it globally, Japanese fans get it live & free on Lemino
- Undefeated P4P clash: #2 vs #7 – Inoue 32-0, 27 KOs is Ring #2 P4P, Nakatani 32-0, 24 KOs is #7 P4P
- Undisputed super-bantamweight titles on the line – All 4 belts: Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC & WBO
- Massive social hype all week – DAZN, Ring Magazine, Boxing News dropped “Tale of the Tape” graphics, samurai-themed posters, and training videos. Ring called it “100 PERCENT BE A WAR”
- Main event time built for Japan – Ring walks approx 4:00 pm JST Saturday May 2, primetime for Japanese fans
- Legacy stakes – Inoue: “Losing to Junto Nakatani is unacceptable”. Nakatani: “There will be a passing of the torch”. Winner takes P4P claim and generational bragging rights
Don’t forget David Benavidez vs Gilberto Ramirez is also this weekend.
