Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super‑bantamweight crown on Saturday in Tokyo, beating fellow Japanese Junto Nakatani by unanimous decision. The 28‑year‑old stopped Nakatani on all three judges’ cards, extending his unbeaten streak to 27 fights and confirming his dominance once again in the division for the Japanese crowd.

After conquering the bantamweight ranks, Inoue jumped to super‑bantamweight in July 2023 and secured the undisputed titles later that year. He has already logged seven successful defenses, but the pool of credible opponents has dried up, prompting talk of a possible weight‑class shift in his career soon now.

Speculation points to a move either down to the lower divisions or up to featherweight, though the latter lacks marquee names. More concrete is the rumored bout with pound‑for‑pound talent Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, who will debut at bantamweight against Antonio Vargas on June 13 in a high‑stakes showdown event.

Inoue, who has fought five times in the past 15 months, admitted fatigue after the bout, pleading for a break. With his legacy intact and future opponents still being negotiated, the Japanese star remains the sport’s most marketable champion, leaving fans eager for his next move in 2026.