A look at the Nakatani estimated time off after Inoue broke his orbital bone and possible comeback opponents in 2026 in boxing below.
First off, Nakatani gave a solid account of himself and although lost on points, his stock went up. For his he also marginally actually went up in the pound for pound rankings in a defeat which is very rare.
Let’s take a look at some things post fight.
Recovery from a broken orbital bone (like Nakatani’s)
- Initial healing: Swelling drops in 1–2 weeks. Doctors then decide surgery vs rest.
- Surgery timing: Usually done 1–2 weeks after injury if needed.
- Bone healing: Repairs at 14 days or 29 days show similar results. Late surgery is harder but can still work.
- Return to sparring: 6–12 weeks post-surgery if bone is stable and eyes move normally. No surgery? 3–6 weeks if no double vision.
- Full fights: Commissions require 3+ months minimum, clear CT, and eye exam. Double vision delays return.
Junto Nakatani’s timeline if no complications:
- Weeks 1–2: Scans. Reduce swelling. No nose blowing.
- Weeks 3–6: Light training only. Check eye movement.
- Weeks 6–12: Sparring if cleared by doctor and CT looks good.
- 3–4 months: Earliest possible return to real fights.
5 possible opponents for Nakatani after Inoue
Stays at 118/122 lbs for a rebuild:
- Jason Moloney – Ex-WBO bantam champ. Big name, winnable.
- Emmanuel Rodriguez – Ex-IBF champ. Technical fight. Title path.
- Alexandro Santiago – Just lost WBC belt. Good style matchup.
- Vincent Astrolabio – Ranked contender. Japan vs Philippines sells.
- Nonito Donaire – Legend, still risky. Helps Nakatani re-establish at 118.
At the end of the day it depends on medical clearance and weight.
At 122 lbs, add Luis Nery or Murodjon Akhmadaliev to the above list as well.
The Donaire fight would be outstanding actually. A good style match up and lots of action if they could make the fight.
To be clear as well it was the Inoue uppercut that caused the Nakatani orbital bone injury, not the clash of heads in round 10.
What a fight.
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani set records at the gate for boxing all time with it.
