Naoya Inoue-Junto Nakatani, inevitably, dominated The Night of the Samurai’s agenda
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani came face to face in an attempt to promote their latest contests, which, it is widely hoped, will lead to them finally fighting in 2026.
Fights between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence, and indeed Inoue and Stephen Fulton have left the all-Japanese affair between Inoue and Nakatani as the most appealing that can be delivered anywhere in the world.
On the same promotion in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on December 27 Inoue defends his undisputed junior-featherweight title against David Picasso of Mexico, and Nakatani – having moved up from bantamweight in anticipation of fighting Inoue next – also fights an undefeated Mexican, by the name of Sebastian Hernandez Reyes.
They were both asked routine questions about their coming fights at the Mohammed Abdo Arena, and they both delivered routine answers with a fraction of the conviction with which they will seek to deliver knockouts of Picasso and Reyes in their final fights of 2025.
Sat side by side at the top table of Friday’s press conference there also appeared minimal tension between them – the dynamic between them spoke of considerable mutual respect – but the same professionalism that has made them not only two of the world’s finest prizefighters but two of its most consistent, was, until its conclusion, what stood out above all else.
Inoue – like Nakatani 31-0; his 27 knockouts give him three more than his rival – is on the verge of fighting for the fourth time in under 12 months, maintaining his long-term status of being not only the world’s third finest active fighter, but the busiest of the elite. At 32 he has demonstrated signs of decline – the aggressive Ramon Cardenas, particularly, exposed that when dropping him during May’s entertaining shootout in Las Vegas – so even if he is unwilling to recognise that his very best may be behind him, as a professional who won his first title at 108lbs he is aware of the risk posed by those who are more naturally suited to his fighting weight.
Nakatani, 27, may even still be improving. He stopped each of his five opponents at bantamweight, and if he is to be believed when he explains that he moved up not simply in pursuit of Inoue but because of his increasing struggles to make the 118lbs weight limit he may yet prove more destructive again.
“I did pretty well at bantamweight, and my weight was becoming a little bit tight, so that’s the reason I moved up,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next division.
“I’ve been practicing and aiming for fighting in the super-bantamweight division, and my power and speed has been improved, but I don’t want to overestimate my punch power, so I’d like to be modest and try to deliver a good fight.
“[Reyes is] a very hard puncher, so I’m going to need high concentration during the match, but I’ve faced many undefeated fighters before, so I’ll stick to my style and, finally, win the battle.”
It is to be hoped that, regardless of the location of December 27’s The Night of the Samurai, Inoue-Nakatani will take place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, which represents its most natural home. There is little question that Crawford-Spence was enhanced by being in Vegas, and that in a different climate the two fights between Bivol and Beterbiev would have been even more appealing in Russia, the country they call home.
That neither Picasso nor Reyes was present at Friday’s press conference was, in so many respects and for reasons beyond Inoue’s and Nakatani’s control, particularly telling. But they, too, will be more than aware of the wider plans they are only a small part of – no matter what Inoue, Nakatani or anyone else may claim.
“It’s a big stepping stone to the upcoming match in May,” said Inoue. “I’m going to show you Picasso’s style; my style to adjust to Picasso. My impression is he’s a very aggressive fighter, so it’s not going to be an easy fight, but I’ll do my best.
“First, I need to concentrate on the upcoming match with Picasso. Then, followed by the big match scheduled next year. Then, after that, I need to talk to my team about what we’re gonna do next – step by step, we’ll discuss that within the team.”
The first question asked on Friday regardless surrounded neither a fight scheduled for December 27 nor one being planned for the new year, but instead what Inoue thought about the influence of Riyadh Season.
That so many of those who spoke also referenced Turki Alalshikh made it near-impossible for a cynic to avoid concluding that they had been instructed to do so; perhaps only Kenshiro Teraji’s father and trainer Hishashi was alone in saying anything that may not have been predictable when he said that his son, who fights Willibaldo Garcia Perez for the IBF junior-bantamweight title in another Japenese-Mexican contest, wants the great Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez next.
As with all fights as appealing as Inoue-Nakatani – and there are few – its status became almost overwhelming before everyone present, even having maintained their composure, left the stage and then room.
The top tables were removed and those involved on December 27 – at least those present – posed for photographs. Still, there appeared little tension, until it was just Inoue and Nakatani left.
If there was any aggressive or intimidating intent between them it could not be seen or detected, but it quickly became clear that it wasn’t Picasso or Reyes, both 25 years old, they had in mind.
The tension grew, for all of their professionalism. Nakatani’s considerable size advantage was also on display for all to see – perhaps both fighters simultaneously making the same recognition explained why it came to appear tense.
Inoue, unconcerned, left first, having also been the first introduced to the top table. Nakatani, almost immediately afterwards, followed him in the same direction, maybe unaware of the impression they had just left.
