Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani full card results: ‘The Monster’ holds onto undisputed super bantamweight title

After all the threat and hopes of fireworks between two superstar performers, Naoya Inoue used his skill, experience and guile to outlast Junto Nakatani over 12 captivating rounds for the undisputed super bantamweight championship.

The great Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs) was taken the distance for a third consecutive bout and deservedly prevailed via margins of 116-112 (twice) and 115-113 on the judges’ cards. The Sporting News also scored the bout 116-112 in favour of Inoue, who remains in possession of the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine titles at 122 pounds.

Nakatani slips to 32-1 (24 KOs) after a first career defeat in esteemed company and will rue suffering a nasty cut above his left eye from a head clash in round 10, checking the momentum gained during his strongest period of the fight.

Inoue stepped on the gas in round 11 to take the result out of the balance. A sell-out crowd of 55,000 at the Tokyo Dome would happily see them do this again.

That will surely be Nakatani’s intention. Inoue might have other ideas, either a shot at a title in a fifth weight division at featherweight or a marque showdown with Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, who makes his bantamweight debut against WBA champion Antonio Vargas.

Following a typically spectacular ring entrance from Inoue, the fight started in cagey fashion. Nakatani adopted a wide stance, allowing him to stay out of range on the back foot. Although a defensively sound strategy, it seemed to rob him of offensive rhythm.

Inoue loves a puzzle to solve and his masterful punch-picking and judgement of distance helped him to bank most of the early rounds, although Nakatani started to jab more authoritatively by the sixth, which was his best of the fight as it reached the halfway point.

After round seven went Inoue’s way. Nakatani’s coach Rudy Hernandez told him he had to be more aggressive and his man heeded the call, digging his feel into the canvas and crashing a southpaw left into Inoue’s jaw. A frantic eighth could have gone either way, but Inoue was clearly wobbled by a short left in round nine before the 10th also went to Nakatani.

However, the head clash before the end of that session meant a delay as the doctor inspected the challenger. The break allowed Inoue to regroup and he pulled out a sensational 11th when he needed it, in the manner of the great that he is. Nakatani was still able to stand firm in the face of Inoue’s immaculate right uppercut, but there was decisive distance between them at the final bell.

MORE: Naoya Inoue’s five greatest knockouts

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani full card results

• Naoya Inoue (c) def. Junto Nakatani (UD 12) to retain the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring super bantamweight titles
• Takuma Inoue (c) def. Kazuto Ioka (UD 12) to retain the WBC bantamweight title
• Yoshiki Takei def. Dekang Wang (MD 8); Super Bantamweights
• Jin Sasaki def. Sora Tanaka (SD 10); Welterweights
• Toshiki Shimomachi def. Reiya Abe (MD 10); Featherweights
• Kosuke Tomioka drew w/ Shogo Tanaka (SD 10); Flyweights
• Yuito Moriwaki def. Deok No Yun (SD 10); Super Middleweights

Where to watch Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani will be available on DAZN worldwide.

A DAZN monthly subscription is $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $29.99 month-to-month. The annual subscription is $224.99.

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani start time

• Date: Saturday, May 2
• Start time: 4 a.m. ET | 1 a.m. PT | 9 a.m. BST
• Main event start time (approx.): 8 a.m. ET | 5 a.m. PT | 1 p.m. BST
• Location: Tokyo Dome – Tokyo, Japan

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani is on May 2. The main card starts at 4 a.m. ET and the main event should begin around 8 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.