Naoya Inoue overcomes Junto Nakatani in history-making clash

Naoya Inoue decisions Junto Nakatani in instant classic for the connoisseurs

Unbeaten in 64 fights and 51 KOs between them, Naoya 'Monster' Inoue (33-0, 27 KO) defeated Junto 'Big Bang' Nakatani (32-1, 24 KOs) at the Tokyo Dome on May 2 in one of the most eagerly anticipated fights of the year.

With this epic victory, the masterful Inoue, 33, retained WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring super-bantamweight titles, in what was a record seventh defence of his undisputed status.

From the outset, the defending champion imposed his rhythm with speed, sharpness, agility, precision, offense, governed by meticulous defence tempered with power, consistently landing the more stinging, eyecatching combinations against a challenger in Nakatani, who looked to respond with straight punching intelligence.

The difference became more evident as the fight progressed, thanks to Inoue’s strict control of distance, high ring IQ, and diverse boxing repertoire.

Throughout the bout, Inoue maintained command during the key moments, securing the scorecards with a solid and consistent performance against a high-level opponent. The unanimous decision win was scored at 115-113, 116-112, 116-112.

Both Japanese superstars were as sharp as knife to start the historic contest. Nakatani was pawing with his awkward southpaw jab. The first clinch was as early as 30 seconds in.

Inoue was throwing powerful right hands from the second stanza and took the role of aggressor early. He kept a high guard to block a lot of Nakatani's range-finding, keep-busy right jabs.

In the fourth, Inoue had cornered Nakatani and sprung forward with a lightning-fast jab to the body, jab to the head, backhand right to the head combination to draw a reaction from the crowd. his superiority was beginning to show.

Nakatani got through with a neat right hook in the fifth as the champ tried covering up under the combo. It was a positive round for the challenger.

Inoue fell in a little in the sixth allowing Nakatani to let his hands land while his opponent was uncharacteristically off-balance. Perhaps the earlier round was causing Naoya to rush his work. Then, when Inoue was poised and posed to find a counter shot to Nakatani's advancements, he was stung with with a straight one-two from head to body. Nakatani was enjoying another good round in succession.

The seventh was littered with many exchanges as the fight began to open up. the same ensued into the eighth. Nakatani seemed to be the one on the front foot now.

Inoue trebled up on stiff jabs in eighth, Nakatani let loose with a combination on Inoue when backed to the ropes in the ninth.

Nakatani landed one of his trademark uppercuts in the ninth, then 'Big Bang' was a whisker away from a huge left hook landing on the champ's chin after he missed with a lead right.

The pair exchanged on the ropes in the 10th as the action kept getting better and better. There were gasps from the crowd when Nakatani landed a thunderous right hook flush on Inoue, who looked troubled by the impact. Nakatani had his hands low, letting his combinations flow. A head clash opened up a cut on Nakatani's eye in the closing moments.

In the final round, Inoue really hunted his prey, landing copiously. The worthy contenders were still sharp and fast by the end of the 36 minutes, showing 8

The epic contest commenced as a chess match, then ended in a firework display.

The two-weight undisputed champion Inoue is now set to be placed as the No.1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world and there is no one left at 126lbs to challenge his reign.

The possibility of the Japanese superstar moving up to featherweight in yet another attempt to clear out a division will excite fight fans..

DID YOU KNOW? Naoya Inoue has defeated 26 opponents (21 by KO) in world championship bouts, and 17 of those wins came against former or current world champions.