by Keith Idec
NAOYA INOUE and Junto Nakatani have to preserve successful.
Nakatani, who owns the WBC bantamweight title, additionally should transfer up from the 118-pound division to the 122-pound weight class for them to struggle. Assuming these issues transpire, although, Bob Arum envisions the unbeaten Japanese champions clashing someday subsequent summer season at Tokyo Dome in what the Corridor of Fame promoter expects to be an infinite occasion of their homeland.
“We’re engaged on it,” Arum informed Boxing Information. “Hopefully, they each preserve successful. And will probably be the largest struggle within the historical past of boxing in Japan.”
Inoue is a mainstream celebrity in Japan, the place he frequently sells out Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo for his title defences. The 31-year-old four-division champion is often listed as one of many high three boxers, pound-for-pound, within the sport and frequently earns greater than $15 million per struggle in his dwelling nation.
Arum – whose firm, Prime Rank Inc., co-promotes Inoue and Nakatani – expects Inoue to struggle twice and Nakatani to compete a minimum of as soon as earlier than presumably placing them within the ring collectively in mid-2025.
“The hope is Inoue fights in December,” Arum defined, “after which we carry him over to the US in April, perhaps on the identical card as Nakatani. After which have them struggle one another within the Tokyo Dome within the largest struggle within the historical past of Japan.”
Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) will defend his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 122-pound crowns in opposition to Australia’s Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on December 24 in Tokyo. An announcement is anticipated quickly to make the cardboard headlined by Inoue-Goodman official.
If the closely favored Inoue wins, his return to the ring within the spring may come versus Uzbek southpaw Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs), who’s the primary contender for Inoue’s WBA belt. In accordance with Arum, opponents aside from Akhmadaliev may even be thought-about for Inoue’s subsequent bout if he defeats Goodman.
The promotional plan for Nakatani was for him to make his subsequent title defence in opposition to Takuma Inoue, Naoya’s youthful brother, which might’ve curiously set the stage for Nakatani-Naoya Inoue if Nakatani had gained that bout. One other Japanese bantamweight, Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-2, 8 KOs), upset Takuma Inoue, nonetheless, by unanimous choice of their 12-rounder October 13 at Ariake Enviornment.
The following day, Nakatani, a 5-foot-8 southpaw who stands three inches taller than Naoya Inoue, stopped Thailand’s Tasana Salapat (76-2, 53 KOs) within the sixth spherical of their October 14 bout at Ariake Enviornment.
The 26-year-old Nakatani could be thought-about the truest menace to Naoya Inoue’s reign as undisputed 122-pound champion if he strikes up 4 kilos. He’s more likely to stay within the 118-pound division for yet one more voluntary title defence in opposition to an opponent to be decided earlier than he advances to Naoya Inoue’s division.
“It’d be the most well liked ticket ever for boxing in Japan,” Arum mentioned. “And keep in mind, [Inoue] offered 55,000 seats, offered it out, when he fought Nery.”
Naoya Inoue obtained up from a flash knockdown throughout the first spherical and defeated Mexico’s Nery (35-2, 27 KOs) by sixth-round TKO on Could 6 at Tokyo Dome, the place James “Buster” Douglas legendarily upset 42-1 favorite Mike Tyson by 10th-round knockout in February 1990. Inoue then stopped Irish southpaw TJ Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs) within the seventh spherical of his final struggle, September 3 at Ariake Enviornment.
