A Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani rematch wowed boxing fans recently in Japan and it could do more in the part 2.
Inoue won the first fight by UD on points but it was close and Nakatani did very well with him in spots.
Let’s a take look at a few things post-fight.
10 facts: Why a rematch makes sense
- It was close. Inoue won 116-112, 116-112, 115-113. Nakatani took multiple rounds.
- A head clash changed the fight. Nakatani was surging in round 10 when the cut happened.
- Nakatani had momentum. His coach said “Junto was on a roll” before the eye injury.
- Inoue is open to it. He said: “If there’s enough demand, a second fight is possible”.
- Top Rank wants it too. President Todd DuBoef: “I could see a rematch… it was that compelling”.
- Nakatani called for it. He demanded the rematch post-fight.
- It sold huge. 55,000 at Tokyo Dome. 500,000+ PPV buys in Japan.
- Big money still there. Coach Hernandez: “Inoue would make more money” with the rematch.
- Questions remain. Bad Left Hook said a rematch is needed to settle them.
- No feeling-out needed. Hernandez: “The rematch would be Round 13”.
10 facts: Why Nakatani can come back vs Inoue
- He hurt Inoue. Nakatani wobbled him with a left in round 9.
- He won late rounds. Nakatani took rounds 9 and 10 before the cut.
- He took control. Inoue looked “worried” and lost control mid-fight.
- The cut stopped him. Blood “running right into” his eye disrupted his finish.
- He ate Inoue’s best shots. He stood firm against Inoue’s uppercut in round 11.
- He’s younger. Nakatani is 28. Inoue is 33.
- He’s bigger. Nakatani has 3” height and reach advantages.
- He proved he belongs at 122. Went 12 rounds with Inoue in just his 2nd fight there.
- His coach believes. Hernandez: “We know that we can beat him”.
- He has power. Hernandez said Nakatani broke Inoue’s orbital bone in round 11.
Who knows what fights they will be in next in 2026, either boxer.
But the fact remains the Inoue vs Nakatani rematch would sell in Asia and in the US.
American boxing fans were impressed with that fight recently and Nakatani did better than many thought.
