The highly anticipated boxing match between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani is set to take place at the iconic Tokyo Dome in May 2026, according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman. This bout has been a dream for many fans, and it's finally coming to fruition. But before the main event, Inoue and Nakatani will warm up the crowd with separate fights on December 27th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Inoue, the undefeated champion, will defend his WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO junior featherweight titles against the formidable David Picasso, who is expected to be no match for the 31-year-old's prowess. Meanwhile, Nakatani, a 27-year-old southpaw, will step up to the 122lbs division, taking on the unbeaten Sebastian Hernandez Reyes after his recent bantamweight unification victory over Ryosuke Nishida in June. Inoue's recent victories over Ye Joon Kim and Ramon Cardenas showcase his dominance, and his September match against Murodjon Akhmadaliev went the full 12 rounds, further solidifying his status as a top contender. Nakatani, on the other hand, has been equally impressive in 2025, knocking out David Cuellar Contreras in three rounds and showcasing his knockout power. If all goes according to plan, this December, Inoue and Nakatani will emerge victorious, setting the stage for one of the most exciting fights in boxing. But here's the intriguing part: what about the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Deontay Wilder match? BoxingScene Today explores this potential showdown, with most of the crew embracing the idea, but Paulie Malignaggi expressing skepticism. The date is set for December 2, 2025, and the boxing world eagerly awaits the outcome of these highly anticipated fights.
