Naoya Inoue, known as the Monster, is preparing for a fight against Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome. The bout is being billed as the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.
Inoue Ready for ‘Toughest Test Yet’
Inoue is preparing for what is described as his toughest test yet against Junto Nakatani. Speaking at a press conference at the Tokyo Dome hotel, the undisputed super-bantamweight champion struck a composed tone. “There’s only one thing: I’m determined to win in two days,” Inoue said.
The fight on Saturday is considered rare. Both men enter with identical 32-0 records and world titles at multiple weights. Inoue is No 2 and Nakatani No 6 on Ring Magazine’s most recent list.
A Sell-Out Crowd Awaits
The fight is set to take place inside the Big Egg during the Golden Week holiday. The 55,000 tickets were hoovered up almost instantly. Live closed-circuit screenings at more than 100 cinemas across the country have also sold out.
Inoue’s Calm Demeanour
Inoue, a seven-time Japanese amateur national champion, said he was entering the bout with a sense of calm. He trains out of the Ohashi Gym in Yokohama under his father, Shingo. “I’ve done everything I needed to do, so I don’t really have any particular feelings about it right now,” he said. “I get the impression that Nakatani has had some really good training. I myself have also had some really great training.”
Nakatani’s Advantages
The Monster will be making his seventh defense of his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles at 122lb against a rangy southpaw widely viewed as his most dangerous opponent in years. Nakatani brings physical advantages in height (three inches), reach (one inch) and age (five years), while his left-handed stance looms as a serious factor. Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas have troubled Inoue with counter lefts in the past, even if both were ultimately overwhelmed once he found his rhythm.
Inoue captured his first world championship at 108lb in just his sixth professional outing before adding a second title at 115lb in his eighth, then unifying all four major belts at 118lb and 122lb in a 378-day span. At 33, he is already one of the finest fighters at any weight from any era.
There have also been brief flashes of vulnerability.