Naoya Inoue Beats Junto Nakatani, Hands Him First Loss

Early body work and late control carry Inoue to unanimous decision in Tokyo

Naoya Inoue defeated Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision (116-112, 116-112, 115-113) over twelve rounds at the Tokyo Dome, handing him his first professional loss. He set the pace early with body shots and controlled the fight down the stretch.

The judges saw it 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113 for Inoue, who moves to 33-0.

From the opening bell, Inoue dictated the terms. He worked behind a stiff jab and immediately went to Nakatani’s midsection, a strategy that paid dividends by slowing Nakatani’s movement. While Nakatani looked to use his length, Inoue neutralized the reach advantage through superior positioning and lead-hand work.

Nakatani had his moments, particularly during a mid-fight surge. He found a home for counters in the sixth and pushed Inoue back in the eighth and ninth with sharp combinations and uppercuts. For a few rounds, it looked like the momentum might be shifting toward the challenger as he forced Inoue into a defensive shell.

The tide turned for good in the tenth. An accidental headbutt opened a nasty gash over Nakatani’s left eye, and Inoue wasted no time capitalizing on the distraction. He re-established his dominance with punishing body shots, taking the wind out of Nakatani’s sails just as the challenger seemed to be finding his second wind.

Inoue put an exclamation point on the performance in the eleventh, rocked Nakatani with uppercuts, and controlled the center of the ring. Despite a spirited exchange in the final three minutes, the champion’s accuracy remained the deciding factor.

This victory clears the biggest hurdle remaining for Inoue at 122 pounds. For Nakatani, the loss is a setback, but his competitive showing in the middle rounds proves he belongs among the elite.

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