Boxing News And Betting Tips
Battle for the Ages: Inoue v Nakatani Preview and Prediction
It’s the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history as pound-for-pound phenom Naoya Inoue defends his undisputed super bantamweight title against fellow undefeated star Junto Nakatani at the iconic Tokyo Dome on Saturday, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
Naoya Inoue (1.30) v Junto Nakatani (3.75) (Undisputed Super Bantamweight Championship)
Saturday, May 2, 1 PM SA time
After years of anticipation, two unstoppable forces from the Land of the Rising Sun will finally collide in a bona fide superfight. Conquerors to their core, both are unbeaten and have left a trail of bodies in their wake on their road to this legacy-deciding duel.
It’s “The Monster” versus “Big Bang” in a showdown that’ll rock the sold out Tokyo Dome and send shockwaves through the boxing world. Ring rulers with extraordinary skill and power, they are beastly belt collectors set to do battle to determine who is the one true king.
Will Inoue prove that he is the gold standard, or will we witness the passing of the torch? Let’s dive into the epic encounter.
In Inoue, you have a four-weight world champion and a two-weight undisputed king. Up there with unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk when it comes to the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, he boasts a perfect record of 32-0 with 27 knockouts.
One of the all-time greats, the 32-year-old rattled off no less than four wins last year, most recently defeating David Picasso in December. He’s a legend, a made man, but as a consummate professional, he doesn’t rest on his laurels. It’s that drive that has ensured he remains at the pinnacle of the sport.
Nakatani is a three-weight world champion. While not quite at the iconic stature of Inoue, he matches his foe with a flawless 32-0 record, with slightly less knockouts at 24. To be a legend you have to beat a legend, and that’s exactly what the 28-year-old plans to do on Saturday.
On the same night that Inoue eased past Picasso, Nakatani made his super bantamweight debut. He struggled with the extra weight for most of his bout with Sebastian Hernandez, but picked up a points win to stay perfect.
Size-wise, he’s taller and rangier than Inoue, but not as dense. Inoue is a more natural super bantamweight than the lanky southpaw, and has vastly more experience fighting at that weight.
Stylistically, you have an aggressive, precise destroyer with elite timing in the champion and a laser-accurate sniper with power and poise in the challenger.
Nakatani, with his size and array of angles, should have success, especially early on. However, one of the attributes that makes Inoue as great as he is is his adaptability.
A genius when it comes to the sweet science, he’ll take over once he figures out his foe’s timing and control the geography of the fight to stand tall.
Prediction: Inoue by decision.
Best Bet: Inoue by decision at 2.75.
