Naoya Inoue named Japan's 'Fighter of the Year' for seventh time in a row

Published On Thursday, April 3, 2025By Tim Rickson

Naoya Inoue is Japan's 'Fighter of the Year' for seventh time in a row

The Japanese Boxing Commission and the Sportswriters Club named two-weight undisputed champion Naoya Inoue as their 'Fighter of the Year' for a seventh consecutive time at their annual awards ceremony at the Tokyo Dome Hotel on March 31.

The pound-for-pound star has won the award eight times, this latest one being the seventh year in a row.

Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery won the award for 'Fight of the Year'. In a fight filled with excitement, in May 2024, undefeated four-weight world champion Inoue was floored for the first time in his career in the opening round, but jumped straight back to his feet to score a sixth-round knockout, which marked his 22nd world title victory.

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The 31-year-old 'Monster' was then joined on stage by the reigning WBC bantamweight champion, Junto 'Big Bang' Nakatani, who each agreed to a fight in 2026.

The two-weight undisputed champion laid down the gauntlet to Junto Nakatani when he offered, "Liven up Japanese boxing [and fight me] at the Tokyo Dome one year from now".

Triple champion Nakatani instantly replied, "Let's do it!"

Kanagawa's Inoue already has two fights lined up in 2025 - against Ramon Cardenas and Murodjon Akhmadaliev - but a 2026 clash with compatriot Nakatani would become the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.