Naoya Inoue remains at his peak and therefore has to be favoured to beat Junto Nakatani, according to his former opponent Jason Moloney.
On Saturday, at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Inoue and Nakatani contest Inoue’s undisputed junior-featherweight title in what represents the most appealing fight of 2026.
Nakatani, 28 and like Inoue also of Japan, is perhaps the toughest opponent of Inoue’s decorated career and, following knockdowns inflicted on Inoue in recent fights with Ramon Cardenas and Luis Nery it has been suggested by observers of his career that at 33 he is in decline.
Regardless, Moloney, who lost to him at bantamweight in 2020 before watching his twin brother Andrew suffer a horrific knockout at the hands of Nakatani three years later, remains convinced that Inoue is at his very best.
He reflects on the suffocating pressure Inoue applies as unforgiving for any who share the ring with him, and while he admires Nakatani’s abilities and recognises that his dimensions will test Inoue, he believes that Inoue will record his 33rd professional win.
“He’s almost the complete package,” Moloney, who in April defeated Andre Donovan, told BoxingScene. “His speed – but his foot speed as much as his hand speed – his control of distance and his feet were incredible. Every time I wanted to move in and attack, I couldn’t get close enough to him to punch, and the times I did get in range he was so fast to pull the trigger and countered me coming in. It was almost like he was one step ahead of you.
“If you wanted to get away from the ropes, that closing speed of his feet was phenomenal, so you can never catch a break or switch off. You’ve got to be on every second of every round, because the moment you wanted to try and get away or move into a better position he was right in your face and on the attack. When I wanted to get near him I couldn’t and when I wanted to get away from him I couldn’t. He was in this perfect position at all times, and always in a position to punch and got the mindset of pulling the trigger so you’ve got to be on the whole fight, which is mentally and physically exhausting.
“What makes him great also opens him to being vulnerable, because he’s not a man that plays it safe and will set a couple of traps and move around – he just puts it on you, and he’s a smart fighter, but he would take risks to knock you out and back his power so he’ll load up some big shots and leave himself vulnerable and we’ve seen him get caught and hurt. He’s always got up to dominate and win, but he can be hurt and dropped and perhaps someone like Nakatani, if he’s able to catch him, goes a step further and finishes him off. But that’s a tough, tough ask.
“I see perhaps what they’re saying. ‘He’s declining and on the way down.’ But I think it’s the challenges he’s taking on; they’re bigger guys; bigger punches; he’s taking risks and getting caught and you’re gonna feel the punches more. I don’t think he’s on the way down – I still think he’s in his prime.”
Nakatani established himself as perhaps the biggest threat to Inoue when in 2023 he stopped Andrew Moloney via a knockout that emulated Manny Pacquiao’s of Ricky Hatton in 2009.
Inoue, months later, proceeded to stop Stephen Fulton – similarly then considered his biggest threat.
“Nakatani, even though he had a bit of trouble in his last fight [December’s victory over Sebastian Hernandez], Inoue’s a completely different style, and he’s southpaw and so tall and got such a wide stance, and throws loopy shots from all angles,” Jason Moloney explained. “I’m excited to see how Inoue handles him as a fighter and how he handles his style, and vice versa – excited to see how Nakatani goes with a fighter like Inoue, because we haven’t seen Nakatani be overly tested in his career, even though he’s achieved so much already.
“He’s so awkward. He’s tall and rangy and long and got this stance where his feet are quite far apart but puts the weight of his head over his back leg. He’s hard to hit. He’s a big puncher – I don’t think he’s as big a puncher as Inoue – but he’s capable of knocking you out with either hand.
“You have to think that him only just moving up to 122 – whereas Inoue’s established at that weight and really filled out and looks a real strong super bantamweight – Nakatani only having one fight is probably at a little bit of a disadvantage. But he’s a big guy – I’m sure he struggled to make 118 – so you might see that he’ll be stronger and better at 122.
“This is the best and most intriguing fight in the sport. I’m stoked that these guys have stepped up and made this fight happen – you’ve got to give them both huge respect. Both undefeated; Nakatani having only just moved up to 122.
“Inoue’s probably pound for pound the number one in the sport. He’s been dropped and hurt in the past and shown some vulnerabilities, because he’s such an exciting fighter – he throws it all out there and he takes risks to knock you out – and there’s always that chance that Nakatani can catch him; can hurt him.
“I slightly favour Inoue because of how good he is. I just find it hard to see a way of someone beating Inoue. I’m so excited to see how it actually plays out.”
