Rumors have been swirling in recent weeks about Japanese boxing icons Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani potentially sharing a card in December ahead of a massive showdown in 2026. Now, those rumors have turned into reality, with their respective year-end bouts officially announced.
Undefeated and widely considered among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, Inoue (31-0, 26 KOs) and Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) are not only global stars but also national heroes in Japan. Their rising dominance has fueled speculation about a future face-off, with plans now in motion for a May 2026 clash in Tokyo.
To set the stage for that highly anticipated bout, both fighters will co-headline a major event titled ‘The Night of the Samurai’, set to take place in Riyadh this December.
Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super-bantamweight champion, will defend his crown against unbeaten Mexican contender Alan David Picasso Romero (32-0-1, 17 KOs). Meanwhile, Junto Nakatani, the unified bantamweight champion, will make his debut at 122lbs against another undefeated Mexican, Sebastian Hernandez Reyes (20-0, 18 KOs), in a high-stakes clash that could preview his readiness to challenge Inoue next year.
Related News
Also featured on the stacked card is Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs), who will attempt to become a three-weight world champion when he challenges IBF super-flyweight titleholder Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs).
A third world title bout could be added to the night, as WBA Interim super-featherweight champion Jazza Dickens (36-5, 15 KOs) is set to face rising Japanese star Hayato Tsutsumi (8-0, 5 KOs). There’s a possibility Dickens may be elevated to full champion status before the fight.
Adding even more intrigue, Japanese lightweight champion Taiga Imanaga (9-0, 5 KOs) will square off with hard-hitting Cuban Armando Martinez Rabi (16-0, 15 KOs), in a battle of unbeaten contenders at 135lbs.
Rounding out the card is top prospect Reito Tsutsumi (3-0, 2 KOs), younger brother of Hayato, who will take on Mexico’s Leobardo Quintana Sanchez (11-1, 5 KOs).
Fans can catch all the action live on DAZN on Saturday, December 27, as Inoue and Nakatani aim to keep their undefeated records intact and set the stage for one of the most anticipated fights in boxing history.
