Inoue-Nakatani fight highlights boxing's surging popularity in Japan

Undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs), ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound by Ring Magazine, is set to fight Junto Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs), ranked No. 6, in a highly anticipated bout. The matchup is fueling growing excitement around boxing in Japan, with Nakatani seen as a legitimate threat to Inoue's unbeaten record. The surge in interest extends beyond the headliners, with emerging Japanese fighters like Riku Masuda (10-1, 9 KOs), who stopped Nonito Donaire earlier in 2025, and debutant Daiya Kira (3-0, 2 KOs) adding depth to Japan's boxing talent pipeline.