Naoya Inoue Becomes No. 1 Boxer After Defeating Junto Nakatani at Tokyo Dome
Following a winning performance against Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome, Naoya "The Monster" Inoue has ascended to the top of the sport, securing the No. 1 ranking from The Ring magazine, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (TBRB), and BoxRec.
The 33-year-old Japanese phenom's unanimous decision victory over the weekend on May 2 served as the final piece of evidence needed to dethrone former pound-for-pound king, heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
While Usyk still holds heavyweight gold, his recent move to face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in a novelty exhibition has opened the door for Inoue's rise.
Inoue, by contrast, solidified his claim by defeating a fellow top-six pound-for-pound talent in Nakatani. This victory extended Inoue's perfect record to 33-0 and marked his 28th win in world title bouts.
Inoue's Performance against Nakatani
The fight itself was a technical chess match that showcased Inoue's legendary adaptability. After a cautious start, Inoue found his rhythm by targeting the body of the taller, southpaw challenger and finding inside leverage with his jab (highlights from DAZNBoxing on X):
#InoueNakatani | Live now on DAZN pic.twitter.com/PM0l2dR9FL
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 2, 2026
Nakatani had some good moments in the fight, landing punishing combinations and sharp straight left hands in the eighth, ninth, and tenth rounds, and even pushing Inoue to the ropes on occasion.
'Big Bang' looking for the big left hand #InoueNakatani | Live now on DAZN pic.twitter.com/XfY9Rw6Xce
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 2, 2026
However, the battle shifted dramatically when a clash of heads opened a severe cut over Nakatani's eye in the tenth round.
Inoue seized the moment immediately, pouring on the pressure in the championship rounds, hurting Nakatani with heavy right hands in the 11th to seal the deal on the scorecards. The official tallies read 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113, cementing his status as the undisputed super bantamweight king.
Post-fight, Inoue spoke with visible relief rather than overwhelming joy, acknowledging the immense risk he had just taken (via ProBox TV on YouTube):
The Monster admitted that the psychological warfare of the bout drained him more than the physical exchanges. He explained in the post-fight press conference that he had to box strategically, sacrificing rounds to preserve energy for the final push.
"It was more my mental stamina that was depleted than physical," Inoue confessed during the post-fight press conference.
Next Move for "The Monster"
With the rankings now solidified, the conversation immediately shifts to what awaits the new No. 1. While a fight with fellow pound-for-pound star Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez looms as a potential mega-fight for 2026, Inoue is keeping his options open.
"My boxing career isn't at the end," Inoue stated, refusing to rule out a move up to featherweight. "I hope I can make history more and more," he said.
For now, the boxing world must adjust to a reality where "The Monster" sits at the top of the food chain. As the new pound-for-pound standard-bearer, Naoya Inoue will continue chasing greatness.
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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 6:08 PM.