In four weeks’ time, Tokyo will host the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, as Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani collide for the undisputed super-bantamweight title. Now, Inoue’s former pound-for-pound rival Terence Crawford has offered his thoughts on the fight.
After becoming the undisputed bantamweight ruler, Inoue conquered the super-bantamweight scene in just two fights, halting both Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales to claim all four belts in the 122lb division.
‘The Monster’ has since defended those belts on six occasions and will soon put them, and his undefeated record, on the line against fellow unbeaten Japanese star Nakatani in an enthralling battle at the 55,000-capacity Tokyo Dome.
Should Inoue come out on top, there is every chance that could become recognised globally as the pound-for-pound number one, due to Crawford’s retirement and Usyk’s underwhelming upcoming showdown with Rico Verhoeven.
On X, Crawford revealed that he believes Inoue-Nakatani is a ’50/50’ affair, simultaneously confirming that he plans to be in attendance for the event, where someone’s ‘0’ has to go.
“That’s 50/50 to me. I wanna go to see tho.”
The fight takes place on Saturday, May 2, and will be broadcasted on Lemino in Japan and on DAZN around the rest of the world.
On the undercard, Inoue’s brother and reigning WBC bantamweight champion Takuma will face four-division world champion Kazuto Ioka in the co-main event of the blockbuster bill.
Additionally, 5-0 Sora Tanaka squares off with Jin Sasaki in an intriguing welterweight scrap for the OPBF title.
