Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani | Keys to Victory & Prediction

Added: 2026-05-01

[00:00:03]Next week we touch on the opening. Some fireworks are coming. We're going to start off in Japan. It's going to be an early morning start May 2nd. It's going to be at the Tokyo Dome. And that's the 118 lb king Junto Nakatani. He's had one fight at 122. This will be his second fight. He's moving on up to take on the 122lb king. And your number two pound-for-pound fighter, the monster, Mr. Inaway. I can't wait for this fight, bud, for so many reasons. I think this is a can'tmiss unbelievable fight. I just want to get right into your preview, your breakdown for this matchup.

[00:00:40]>> Yeah, listen. Inway's a big favorite even though it's uh greatly highly anticipated. He's at least three to one favorite, right? Not more.

[00:00:47]>> He's 4 and a half to one favorite currently where Nakatani will get back plus 300. I think Nagatani is a life dog. You have to like innovate. It's hard to go against him. Uh this fight will come down to geography.

[00:01:02]I talk about geography, geography, you know, as though I'm a real estate broker. Location, location, location. To me, that's sometimes the most important physical element of a fight. You know, guys have to be mentally ready. They have to have a good intellect, a good fight plan. Uh obviously all their skills have to be highly toned but geography you know who fights at the range the distance the location that better suits them for their talent and in a way wants to be close. Nakatani wants to be at a range at a distance and he's a southpaw. He wants to fight. He wants to make it hard for in a way to make ground. He wants to make him pay a toll like he's going through a toll gate every time he tries to make real estate on him by closing the gap. Make him pay a price. Mug him as he goes through a bad neighborhood. Like I used to always say when I was doing the commentating.

[00:02:04]Uh I think there's two ways to look at the last fights. The both these guys fought on the same card in their last fight. In a way had an easier night. He went the distance, but he didn't take a lot of punishment. Nakatani went the distance, took a lot of punishment. I'll say it again. Took a lot of punishment four months ago. Has he had enough time to recover? Has it taken too much out of him? He went in that ring and came out of it with probably a little less of himself. It happens. I talk about it all the time. But at 27, I think he's 27.

[00:02:45]Nakatani, if I got my age down here, uh, right at right 28. At 28, >> he's young enough to handle that, to survive that, you know, youth can do amazing things. And I believe he's five years younger than Inway. Will that age difference show? Now, Inaway is not used up. He's not shot worn. He's not like an older guy who's been in a lot of just a lot of rough rough rough fight. He been in enough but not that many. So, will the age make a difference?

[00:03:20]I'm going to say that Nakatani, you could look at the negative that that last fight only four months ago was so brutal, he needs more time before the next fight. But I'm also going to say that he needed that kind of fight. He hasn't been in with the level of competition in a way he has been. He hasn't. And I'm gonna say he needed that fight to answer questions to himself. Am I ready for the monster? Am I ready for a firefight? If it becomes a firefight, am I ready to go in the furnace? Am I willing, ready, believing that I can depend on myself if that kind of fight takes place and presents itself and shows up? If the devil knocks at the door, can I freaking answer that door? I think that the devil will show up.

[00:04:20]That's in a way. He will show up. And I think Nakatani got the answers from that last fight. believe it or not. But I'm gonna go and say that fight helps him. I still I mean in a way he's the monster and you know he he's he's got the quicker hands. I think um in this fight I think he's a little more explosive.

[00:04:43]Both guys have moved up several weight classes. Um I don't think they carry their power quite as much as they did at the lower weight classes.

[00:04:54]uh in a way does have those moments where he's very explosive. So does Nakatani.

[00:05:02]It's going to be a hell of a fight. It's going to be a hell of a fight. I think it's going to go I mean it could go like that with the kind of explosive moments that this fight can bring on both sides.

[00:05:15]But I think it's going to go rounds. I think there's going to be a lot of pride involved.

[00:05:21]Japanese pride. It's going to be a lot more than just about the the W. It's going to be about the pride of a country. That's going to play into it. I give Nagatani a shot at a at a large number. A large number. It is a large number to get a fighter who in your rankings is a top 10 pound-for-pound fighter. But, uh, then again, he's going against your number two guy in your pound-for-pound rankings. Like I said before, I can't wait for this one. And if you guys want to join us and do a little breakfast in boxing, we're going to be here at the YouTube channel, the fight with Teddy Atlas, and doing a live stream fight companion with Teddy's commentary for this matchup, Nakatani and Inaway. So come join us. And again, that's going to be an early start next week since the fight is in Japan.

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