Inoue and Nakatani Secure Wins, Set Stage for 2026 Megafight

Japanese boxing rivals Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both secured victories on Saturday, paving the way for a major showdown in 2026. Inoue, the undisputed junior featherweight champion with a perfect record of 32-0 and 27 KOs, outperformed David Picasso at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The judges scored the bout 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111 in favor of Inoue. Earlier in the evening, Nakatani, also unbeaten at 32-0 with 24 KOs, faced a tough challenge in his junior featherweight debut, winning a unanimous decision against Sebastian Hernandez with scores of 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110.

The anticipated match between Inoue and Nakatani is expected to be one of the biggest clashes in Japanese boxing history, featuring two of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters, both maintaining unbeaten records. Inoue will put his 122-pound title belts on the line in what is being billed as a historic encounter.

While Inoue’s bout with Picasso lacked a knockout finish, his dominant performance has set the stage for what many consider the first megafight of 2026. Speculation continues around whether heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally meet after a prolonged period of negotiations and unfulfilled agreements.

Inoue, a champion in four weight classes, successfully defended his junior featherweight title for the seventh time. He effectively outmaneuvered Picasso, consistently landing punches and targeting the body throughout the match. Despite some vulnerabilities in previous bouts, Inoue’s speed, skill, and power proved to be significantly superior to Picasso’s in this contest.

“I wasn’t very happy about my performance; I could have done much better,” Inoue reflected after the match. “I will learn from this and be much better next time. I’m very happy that I could win four matches this year, but I am really tired, so I would love to rest for a while.”

As the fight progressed, Inoue demonstrated a wide variety of punches, overwhelming Picasso, who, despite his spirited efforts, could not match the champion’s performance. Picasso, now standing at 32-1-1 with 17 KOs, showcased his own resilience, absorbing significant punishment while managing to complete all twelve rounds.

Nakatani had a different experience in his match against Hernandez, who put up an aggressive fight that tested Nakatani’s endurance. The three-weight world champion, who recently changed weight classes, finished the bout with a swollen right eye but emerged victorious.

“It was a great learning experience for me,” Nakatani said post-fight. “My opponent put up a great fight, and it enabled me to grow accordingly. I changed my weight class to aim for the world champion [Inoue], and if I get the opportunity, I will do my best.”

Nakatani’s victory capped a successful year, having also defeated Ryosuke Nishida and David Cuellar Contreras earlier in 2025. With both fighters now eyeing a future clash, Inoue emphasized the importance of their promoter, Hideyuki Ohashi, in determining the path forward.

Meanwhile, Hernandez, based in San Diego but originally from Mexico, demonstrated his potential with a strong performance that could position him for future title opportunities. The bout was marked by intense exchanges, with both fighters showcasing their skills in what was a thrilling co-main event.

In an unrelated development, Willibaldo Garcia, the IBF world junior bantamweight champion, withdrew from a scheduled title defense against two-weight champion Kenshiro Teraji after falling ill following the weigh-in. No replacement opponent was secured for Teraji, leaving the boxing community anticipating further news on this situation.

As the boxing world turns its focus to the potential meeting between Inoue and Nakatani, both fighters are poised for a year of significant challenges and opportunities in 2026.