Naoya Inoue emerged victorious against Junto Nakatani, retaining his undisputed super-bantamweight title in a highly anticipated Japanese boxing event. The intense 12-round battle saw 'The Monster' Inoue successfully defend his WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO belts, winning by scores of 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113 in front of a packed audience of 55,000 at the Tokyo Dome. This loss marked the end of Nakatani's perfect 32-fight record, as the three-division champion struggled to counter Inoue's formidable power and combinations. Inoue praised Nakatani, saying, 'He was a fighter with a strong heart, which makes this win even more significant.' Nakatani reflected on his first defeat, stating, 'I was well-prepared, but the champion was exceptional.' Inoue initially gained the upper hand with his precise punches and agile footwork, but Nakatani fought back in the fifth round with a series of powerful blows.
Inoue's hurtful right hands in the seventh round hindered Nakatani's attempts to rally, although the skilled southpaw briefly stunned Inoue with an uppercut in the ninth. Following a head clash that left Nakatani with a cut above his right eye, the fighters exchanged powerful shots at close range until the final bell, with Inoue ultimately reestablishing his dominance in the super-bantamweight division.