Junto Nakatani has officially vacated his WBC and IBF bantamweight titles, confirming his move to the super bantamweight division in pursuit of a clash with fellow Japanese star Naoya Inoue.
Nakatani made a blistering impact at 118 lbs, claiming the WBC crown in his debut by halting Alexandro Santiago, then racking up three defenses with knockout wins over Vincent Astrolabio, Tasana Salapat, and David Cuellar Contreras. In June, he unified by stopping IBF champion Ryosuke Nishida, extending his stoppage streak to five and furthering his reputation as one of the sport’s most destructive southpaws.
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Yet, the 27-year-old always seemed destined for 122 lbs, with whispers of a generational showdown against Inoue growing louder throughout 2025. At a press conference this week, Nakatani made it plain: “That [Inoue fight in May] is what I should aim for. I have no choice but to ask myself what I need to do to achieve that and continue to grow.”
Both fighters are now slated for the same card in Riyadh on December 27. Inoue will headline against unbeaten Mexican Alan David Picasso, while Nakatani makes his super bantamweight debut in the co-main, facing heavy-handed Sebastian Hernandez Reyes.
If both men prevail, the stage will be set for one of boxing’s most anticipated showdowns in May 2026: Inoue vs. Nakatani, an all-Japanese clash with generational stakes.
Image Credit: The Ring