The artwork is titled Challenger. Despite suffering his first professional defeat against Inoue, Nakatani’s reputation remains undiminished. The narrative of whether he can leverage this setback to ascend to the pinnacle of the sport once more has already commenced, marking the beginning of the second chapter of his career. Adorned with his own signature, the mural has become a definitive symbol of a true challenger.

【告知】井上尚弥vs中谷潤人 5.2東京ドーム決戦に迫る密着ドキュメンタリーがLeminoプレミアムで配信開始

５月２日に東京ドームで開催された井上尚弥（大橋）－中谷潤人（M.T）の舞台裏に迫った「試合密着ドキュメンタリー THE DAY～やがて、伝説と呼ばれる日。～井上尚弥vs中谷潤人　井上拓真vs井岡一翔」が25日からLeminoプレミアムで独占...

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（大橋ジム提供）

The documentary explores the behind-the-scenes action of the historic night, featuring both Inoue and Nakatani reflecting on their mindset during their high-level tactical encounter in the ring. It also closely follows the WBC bantamweight title bout between Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) and Kazuto Ioka (Shisei).

On the 2nd, Inoue successfully defended his world titles before a crowd of 55,000 at the Tokyo Dome—the largest attendance in Japanese boxing history—against former three-division world champion Junto Nakatani (M.T). In a tactical encounter of the highest order between two undefeated fighters, Inoue secured a unanimous decision victory.

Inoue’s ascent to the PFP number one spot marks his return to the summit for the first time since May 2024, following his victory over Luis Nery. With this result, he surpasses heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine) to claim the top position in the rankings. Following the release of the latest rankings, Inoue posted three flame emojis on his X account, offering a characteristically understated yet fervent expression of his achievement.

🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/STUn2eb9X9

— 井上尚弥 Naoya Inoue (@naoyainoue_410) May 4, 2026

Meanwhile, Nakatani, who suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of Inoue, dropped one place from 6th to 7th but remains firmly within the top ten. While a loss often results in a significant slide in the rankings, the fact that Nakatani’s descent was minimal serves as a testament to his steadfast global reputation.

The Ring PFP Rankings

1. Naoya Inoue (JPN)

2. Oleksandr Usyk (UKR)

3. Shakur Stevenson (USA)

4. Jesse Rodriguez (USA)

5. David Benavidez (USA)

6. Dmitry Bivol (RUS)

7. Junto Nakatani (JPN)

8. Devin Haney (USA)

9. Oscar Collazo (PUR)

10. Emanuel Navarrete (MEX)

中谷との高度な激闘を制した井上㊨

Following the introduction by ring announcer Michael Buffer, Nakatani was the first to enter the ring before a crowd of 55,000. Inoue followed, accompanied by a live performance by guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei. After the national anthem was performed by singer Fumiya Fujii, the opening bell sounded.

The bout commenced with an intense battle of feints. Nakatani utilised his superior reach with right jabs, while Inoue countered with low-aimed left jabs to the body. Both men demonstrated exceptional defensive movement to evade return shots, creating a high-tension opening that drew immediate roars from the audience.

The technical stalemate continued at an elite level, with Inoue constantly feinting with his upper body while Nakatani used his lead hand like a probe to disrupt the champion’s rhythm. In the fourth, Nakatani looked to land sharp left straights but missed the mark. Inoue began to increase his output, working behind the jab to set up short right hooks. In the fifth, Nakatani landed a glancing left straight, and in the sixth, he found success with his straight left from distance. Inoue, however, remained patient, consistently jabbing to close the range. As Inoue surged late in the round, Nakatani responded with a right uppercut.

Inoue intensified his offensive in the seventh, landing a clean right straight that appeared to be the most impactful blow of the fight to that point. The action escalated in the eighth as both men stood their ground. Nakatani refused to retreat, unleashing heavy combinations including a menacing right hook following his left.

Despite the intensity, both fighters appeared to relish the technical exchange; Nakatani was seen smiling after Inoue masterfully evaded a sequence of punches. In the ninth, Inoue displayed superb defensive skills to slip Nakatani’s unorthodox shots. An accidental clash of heads in the tenth caused a cut on the left side of Nakatani’s brow.

While Nakatani edged the tenth, Inoue mounted a comeback in the eleventh. He used uppercuts to force Nakatani into a high guard and followed up with a right-hand-led assault that forced the challenger to use his feet. The final round began to thunderous applause, with both men trading their primary weapons—the straight—until the final bell. Upon the conclusion, the two embraced in a show of mutual respect as a standing ovation swept through the stadium.

Winner Inoue remarked: “I executed a performance to show that I would be the one winning tonight. He is a fighter with immense heart. Because he is a PFP-ranked fighter, there is great value in this victory.” He then addressed the capacity crowd, saying, “I will return to this Tokyo Dome, so please show me this view again,” to thunderous applause. The champion added, “After a short rest, I want to sit down with Ohashi-kaicho and my father to consider future opponents and our next steps.”

Inoue improves his record to 33-0, 27 KOs. Nakatani, suffering his first professional defeat, moves to 32-1, 24 KOs.

３月の試合発表会見以来の対面となった井上㊧と中谷　photo/Naoki Fukuda

Unified super-bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (Ohashi), set to defend his titles in the main event, stated: “I have done everything possible in preparation. I feel very calm and am simply waiting for the fight in two days.” His challenger, Junto Nakatani (M.T), widely regarded as the ultimate threat to Inoue, also reported the completion of a successful training camp. “Not many boxers have the opportunity to stand in a place like this,” Nakatani said. “I maintained a sense of gratitude and enjoyed the process throughout my camp.”

“I have dedicated my life to this May 2 fight,” Inoue added. “I want everyone to burn the image of my performance that day into their memories.”

Nakatani countered with equal resolve: “On May 2, I will demonstrate the story of Junto Nakatani and ensure I come away with the victory.”

Both men appeared to carry a deep, quiet confidence heading into the showdown.

レジェンド井岡㊨を拓真が迎えるバンタム級戦　photo/Naoki Fukuda

Promoter Hideyuki Ohashi introduced the WBC world bantamweight title bout as “the other main event,” and both champion Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) and challenger Kazuto Ioka (Shisei) indicated they have completed satisfactory training camps.

Takuma described the clash with the legendary Ioka as “a fight that genuinely excites me.” While much of the tactical focus has centered on the opening rounds, Takuma appeared genuinely eager, stating, “We won’t know how it unfolds until the bell rings. I want as many people as possible to witness it.”

Ioka remained composed, remarking: “I have adjusted my preparation by drawing on my previous experience competing at bantamweight. I intend to stay focused on my responsibilities until I step into the ring. I will seize this opportunity and show everyone the moment I achieve my fifth divisional world title.”

Tickets for the massive event, which boasts a capacity of 55,000, sold out more than a month in advance. Promoter Ohashi revealed that both Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are receiving the highest fight purses of their careers. Furthermore, pay-per-view sales on Lemino Premium are reportedly performing well.

The official weigh-in for the biggest super-fight in Japanese history will take place tomorrow, ahead of the fateful opening bell.

多くの報道陣が駆け付けた中谷の公開練習

Nakatani returned to Japan on the 19th following a training camp in Los Angeles. Despite lingering jet lag, he resumed gym work the morning after his arrival. Although facing the toughest opponent of his 33-fight career, he appeared completely composed during the press conference. With a smile, he expressed his eagerness for the bout, declaring confidently, “I believe I can put on a fight that will captivate 55,000 people.”

Following the session, Nakatani demonstrated one round each of shadow boxing, mitt work, and heavy bag drills. His trainers, Rudy Hernandez and Daisuke Okabe, have arrived in Japan to oversee his final preparations.

販売予定枚数を終了した井上-中谷戦

According to Chairman Ohashi, the allocated ticket quota has been exhausted, and there are no plans for additional general sales. However, a resale period will be held via “Ticket Pia” starting at 17:00 on Saturday, April 11th, to accommodate successful lottery applicants who are unable to attend the event.

Two years ago, Inoue’s bout against Luis Nery (Mexico) drew a crowd of 43,000 to the Tokyo Dome. This upcoming “superfight” against Nakatani is widely expected to surpass that attendance figure.

PPV ticket sales began today, March 18, at noon. The sales period will run until May 10. The pricing is set as follows:

• • Advance Purchase: 6,050 yen (tax included)

  • Day-of Purchase: 7,150 yen (tax included)

The advance purchase offers a discounted rate. Additionally, a special benefit is available for subscribers of Docomo’s “Docomo MAX” and “Docomo Poi-katsu MAX” rate plans, who can view the event at no additional cost. The broadcast will be an exclusive live stream on Lemino, accessible on various devices including smartphones, PCs, and TVs. This allows fans unable to attend in person to experience this historic clash in real-time. Purchasers will have access to the live stream on the day of the event as well as archived viewing available until May 31. With the clash between two undefeated stars, the start of PPV sales has further intensified the excitement for “THE DAY.”

「THE DAY」井上尚弥×中谷潤人 　5.2東京ドームで激突

５月２日、東京ドームでボクシング界待望のビッグイベントが開催される。チャンピオン井上尚弥（大橋）－中谷潤人（M.T）の世界スーパーバンタム級戦の正式発表会見が６日、都内ホテルで開かれた。究極の日本人対決はずばり「ＴＨＥ　ＤＡＹ」とキャッチが...

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井上拓真がレジェンド井岡一翔を迎え撃つ　5.2東京ドームでＷＢＣバンタム級戦

５月２日の東京ドーム興行ではもう一つのビッグマッチが実現する。ＷＢＣ世界バンタム級王者の井上拓真（21勝5KO2敗）が、元４階級制覇王者の井岡一翔（32勝17KO4敗1分）を迎え撃つもの。■新旧実力者による注目の日本人対決前戦で那須川天心を...

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5.2東京ドーム興行の全対戦カード　前世界王者・武居由樹、阿部麗也×下町俊貴、田中空×佐々木尽など全７試合

５月２日の東京ドーム興行は井上尚弥－中谷潤人、井上拓真－井岡一翔のほかにも、再起戦の前世界王者・武居由樹（大橋）などトップ選手が出場して全７試合の豪華興行となる。「日本ボクシング界の長い一日となります」とは大橋会長である。当日の全容は以下の...

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LA合宿に出発した中谷

Surrounded by media at Haneda Airport prior to his departure, Nakatani uttered a resolute, “The time has finally come.” While he has already been sharpening his skills at the M.T Gym in Sagamihara, Kanagawa—sparring with domestic talents such as All-Japan Rookie of the Year Ryo Ichihara (Kuroshio)—Nakatani is looking toward this Los Angeles stint to take his preparation to the next level. “I want to spend a more concentrated period of time there to put on the finishing touches,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of this final high-intensity phase.

This training camp will span one month. Just before boarding, Nakatani shared the core philosophy that drives his preparation: “I believe that in a fight, you can only produce what you have built up through training.” With those final words, he departed for Los Angeles.

■Undefeated PFP Stars Set for Historic Showdown

Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs), the absolute ruler who has overwhelmed numerous elite opponents to date, will defend his undisputed Super Bantamweight / Junior Featherweight crown. Challenging him is Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs), a formidable champion who has secured titles across three weight classes. This matchup between two undefeated PFP stars is expected to be a landmark event in boxing history.

At the press conference, Inoue expressed his resolve: “We have both kept our promises to reach this day. I want everyone to witness this historic moment. I will enter the ring in the best condition of my career.” Nakatani responded with equal determination: “I am grateful for this massive opportunity. I will deliver the best performance possible. I intend to show how much I have grown and will certainly become the world champion [at this weight].”

Promoter Hideyuki Ohashi spoke with deep emotion: “I feel a strange sensation, as if there is a hole in my heart now that this day has finally arrived.” Alongside the Inoue-Nakatani main event, the card will feature a high-stakes encounter between Takuma Inoue and Kazuto Ioka. “It feels truly surreal to have these four names together. I believe there will be a chemical reaction on the day that results in an extraordinary night of boxing,” Ohashi added.