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Naoya Inoue challenged Junto Nakatani to a fight on March 31, 2025, during the Japanese Boxing Commission awards ceremony in Tokyo. Inoue proposed the bout take place at the Tokyo Dome in 2026, and Nakatani accepted by shaking hands and saying, "Sure, let's do it." A top level fight that Inoue that stated could happen at Super Bantamweight in recent interviews.
In Barrera vs Morales in February 19, 2000, in a bout dubbed "Campeón vs. Campeón," Barrera (49-2-1, 36 KOs) had established himself as a formidable force in the super bantamweight division at 26 years old until his ability was questioned after his consecutive losses to Junior Jones. He fought a young but quite accomplished 23 year old Erik Morales (35-0, 28 KOs). Who had won his title by beating a veteran in Daniel Zaragoza and then defended his Super Bantamweight title against champions like Junior Jones and Wayne McCullough in his 9 defense streak inside 2 years.
There doesn't seem to be any kind of antagonism between the two top Japanese boxers, it seems more dispute who is leading the current golden age in the sport of their country as the best fighter and aim to please Japan's fanbase, unlike the Mexican boxers who had personal turmoil, history, personality and upbringing differences with Barrera being brought up in a wealthy family in contrast to Morales. Along with contemporaneous events of Barrera being dismissed as a washed fighter after losing recently despite what he accomplish later on, whereas Morales had built a pretty good reputation at 23 years old.
Barrera was known for being a more cerebral, tactical fighter who used his boxing IQ to control the pace at 126-130, however despite not being a one punch KO artist like Inoue, he was a heavy handed combination punching pressure fighter prior facing Junior Jones, changing fundamentally his style to a refined textbook boxer puncher after both his losses thanks to his notable amateur credentials along with receptive trainers like Rudy Perez and Sendai Tanaka. While Morales was a brawler who took a more aggressive approach that could fight at any range capitalizing on his reach, having refined well timed controlled aggression, he was also versatile enough to box or brawl depending on the situation.
Naoya Inoue at 122, holds a notable streak of wins over champions like Stephen Fulton (21-0), Marlon Tapales (37-3), Luis Nery (35-1), and TJ Doheny (26-4). He holds a record of (6-0, 6 KOs) at the division over 5 champions. Naoya Inoue stands at 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) with a reach of 67+1⁄2 in (171 cm). Currently holds a record of (30-0, 27 KOs) being (6-0, 6 KOs) at 122.
Marco Antonio Barrera stands at 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) with a reach of 70 in (178 cm). At 122 he holds a record of (25-3, 21 KOs) at Super Bantamweight as he debuted and competed at Super Flyweight. Barrera had not beaten that many champions at 122 outside of Jesus Salud (69-5, 37 KOs), Daniel Jimenez (19-3, 10 KOs), and Kennedy McKinney (28-1-1, 17 KOs). But his ability at his prime of a younger Barrera was displayed against Morales (35-0, 28 KOs) in a quite controversial loss. He then went to beat Peden, Juarez X2, Kelley, Ayala, Tapia, Hamed and Morales X2
Junto Nakatani stands at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) with a reach of 69 1⁄4 in (176 cm). Nakatani holds a record of (30-0, 24 KOs). At Bantamweight. A division below 122, he holds a record of (4-0, 4 KO wins). At the division he has beaten 1 champion in Alexandro Santiagoso so far in contrast to Inoue 5 champions at Super Bantamweight. Like Morales, he is the younger and physically fighter between him and Naoya. At 27 years old in comparison to the 32 year old Inoue.
Erik Morales stands at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) with a reach of 72 in (183 cm). Morales holds a record of (36-0, 28 KOs). With a history of beating Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough and Marco Antonio Barrera in the division. Later beating the likes of Kevin Kelley, Guty Espadas Jr X2, Chi In-Jin, Paulie Ayala, and Manny Pacquiao.
What other fight is a similiar or better comparison to a fight between Inoue and Nakatani? Would it deliver such a competitive fights considering their physical attributes and skills Or would one overtake the other quite dominantly instead?
In Barrera vs Morales in February 19, 2000, in a bout dubbed "Campeón vs. Campeón," Barrera (49-2-1, 36 KOs) had established himself as a formidable force in the super bantamweight division at 26 years old until his ability was questioned after his consecutive losses to Junior Jones. He fought a young but quite accomplished 23 year old Erik Morales (35-0, 28 KOs). Who had won his title by beating a veteran in Daniel Zaragoza and then defended his Super Bantamweight title against champions like Junior Jones and Wayne McCullough in his 9 defense streak inside 2 years.
There doesn't seem to be any kind of antagonism between the two top Japanese boxers, it seems more dispute who is leading the current golden age in the sport of their country as the best fighter and aim to please Japan's fanbase, unlike the Mexican boxers who had personal turmoil, history, personality and upbringing differences with Barrera being brought up in a wealthy family in contrast to Morales. Along with contemporaneous events of Barrera being dismissed as a washed fighter after losing recently despite what he accomplish later on, whereas Morales had built a pretty good reputation at 23 years old.
Barrera was known for being a more cerebral, tactical fighter who used his boxing IQ to control the pace at 126-130, however despite not being a one punch KO artist like Inoue, he was a heavy handed combination punching pressure fighter prior facing Junior Jones, changing fundamentally his style to a refined textbook boxer puncher after both his losses thanks to his notable amateur credentials along with receptive trainers like Rudy Perez and Sendai Tanaka. While Morales was a brawler who took a more aggressive approach that could fight at any range capitalizing on his reach, having refined well timed controlled aggression, he was also versatile enough to box or brawl depending on the situation.
Naoya Inoue at 122, holds a notable streak of wins over champions like Stephen Fulton (21-0), Marlon Tapales (37-3), Luis Nery (35-1), and TJ Doheny (26-4). He holds a record of (6-0, 6 KOs) at the division over 5 champions. Naoya Inoue stands at 5 ft 5 in (165 cm) with a reach of 67+1⁄2 in (171 cm). Currently holds a record of (30-0, 27 KOs) being (6-0, 6 KOs) at 122.
Marco Antonio Barrera stands at 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) with a reach of 70 in (178 cm). At 122 he holds a record of (25-3, 21 KOs) at Super Bantamweight as he debuted and competed at Super Flyweight. Barrera had not beaten that many champions at 122 outside of Jesus Salud (69-5, 37 KOs), Daniel Jimenez (19-3, 10 KOs), and Kennedy McKinney (28-1-1, 17 KOs). But his ability at his prime of a younger Barrera was displayed against Morales (35-0, 28 KOs) in a quite controversial loss. He then went to beat Peden, Juarez X2, Kelley, Ayala, Tapia, Hamed and Morales X2
Junto Nakatani stands at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) with a reach of 69 1⁄4 in (176 cm). Nakatani holds a record of (30-0, 24 KOs). At Bantamweight. A division below 122, he holds a record of (4-0, 4 KO wins). At the division he has beaten 1 champion in Alexandro Santiagoso so far in contrast to Inoue 5 champions at Super Bantamweight. Like Morales, he is the younger and physically fighter between him and Naoya. At 27 years old in comparison to the 32 year old Inoue.
Erik Morales stands at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) with a reach of 72 in (183 cm). Morales holds a record of (36-0, 28 KOs). With a history of beating Daniel Zaragoza, Junior Jones, Wayne McCullough and Marco Antonio Barrera in the division. Later beating the likes of Kevin Kelley, Guty Espadas Jr X2, Chi In-Jin, Paulie Ayala, and Manny Pacquiao.
What other fight is a similiar or better comparison to a fight between Inoue and Nakatani? Would it deliver such a competitive fights considering their physical attributes and skills Or would one overtake the other quite dominantly instead?
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