Boxing
Both Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani win and set megafight for 2026
Published
4 months agoon
Japanese boxing rivals Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani had one of the biggest fights of 2026 after both recorded victories on Saturday.
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Inoue (32-0, 27 KO) outclassed David Picasso to win by unanimous scores of 119-109, 120-108 and 117-111 at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
Previously, Nakatani (32-0, 24 KO) won the junior featherweight division, but he fought the hardest fight of his career to win by unanimous decision (115-113, 115-113 and 118-110) over Sebastian Hernandez.
Inoue vs. Nakatani will be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history as two of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters, both undefeated, will face each other for Inoue’s 122-pound championship belts.
It wasn’t a masterpiece of Inoue vs. Picasso as it lacked a knockout, but his dominant victory set up the first megafight of 2026. Time will tell whether English heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, former world champions, will face each other after five years of trials, speculation and unfulfilled agreements.
Inoue, 32, a world champion in four weight classes, defended his junior featherweight title for the seventh time, consistently beating Picasso and repeatedly targeting the body.
Inoue has shown himself to be vulnerable in recent fights – he has recovered from knockdowns in two of his five previous fights – but in his fourth fight this year, his speed, skill and strength were superior to Picasso.
“I wasn’t very ecstatic with my performance, I could have done much better, so I will learn from it and do much better next time,” Inoue said later.
Yokohama’s Inoue had to wrap his arms twice, but that didn’t distract him as he quickly gained momentum. Inoue landed a variety of punches, landing a flurry of combinations on Picasso in the first three rounds. The Mexican challenger showed bursts of spirited aggression, but it was Inoue who was at his best throughout the 12 rounds.
Picasso (32-1-1, 17 KO), who impressively won a 10-round majority decision over Kyonosuke Kameda in July, has a degree in neuroscience, but it was Inoue who demonstrated a better ring IQ. Inoue hurt Picasso with a left to the body slow in round 6 when his hand speed still allowed him to comfortably defeat the challenger.
Picasso absorbed another crunch left in the body in round 8, and in the next round there were merciless attacks on the body. Picasso showed great fitness to survive 12 rounds with one of the best boxers in the world.
Nakatani will survive a tough fight against Hernandez
Thirteen-round world champion Nakatani of Kanagawa, who trains in Los Angeles, fought a brutal 12-round non-title fight that ended with his right eye swollen and closed.
Nakatani, who relinquished his bantamweight world titles in September, put up the toughest fight of his career against Hernandez’s relentless aggression and hefty punching. A draw would have been a fair result in a great co-main event, and Hernandez (20-1, 18 KO) even had a good case for the win.
“It was a great learning experience for me,” Nakatani said later.
“My opponent had a great fight, which allowed me to develop properly. I’m changing weight classes to target the world champion [Inoue] and if I get the chance, I will give it my all.”
It was a good year for 27-year-old Nakatani, who retained Ryosuke Nishida and David Cuellar Contreras in 2025.
Hernandez, originally from Mexico but based in San Diego, had an impressive knockout rate below world title level, but this performance showed he was good enough to win world titles.
Nakatani initially took control with a southpaw jab, then opened up more in round two when he landed a shaking left hook on the counter.
Nakatani landed a brilliant right uppercut slow in the 3rd period, and his counter punches were getting sharper. Hernandez applied effective pressure in the second half of the fourth round, but Nakatani continued to hit him with uppercuts.
Both landed multiple punches in a furious round 6, with the middle rounds being uncomfortable for Nakatani. Hernandez maintained his intensity and landed Nakatani as he marched and punched forward in the second half of the fight. Round 9 was close, with one of the scorecards looking harsh for Hernandez, who showed unquenchable fighting spirit.
IBF bantamweight world champion Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KO), a 36-year-old from Mexico, withdrew from defending his title on the eve of his fight with two-weight champion Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KO). Garcia was reportedly taken to the hospital after he fell ill following Friday’s weigh-in. It was not possible to find a replacement opponent for the Japanese Teraji fighter.
You may like
Boxing
Eddie Hearn warns that Zuffa athletes could lose their world title eligibility
Published
1 hour agoon
April 26, 2026
“I think there will be a large split in boxing now,” promoter Matchroom Hearn told the media. “If you go with Zuffa, you’re out of the governing bodies. I think that’s really what it’s going to have to be like.”
Hearn’s comments come at a time when Zuffa Boxing is gaining momentum and gaining attention from fighters and promoters across the sport. The long-term question was whether the events would interact with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO systems, or go in a different direction.
Hearn explained his position.
“If you sign with Zuffa, you can’t win the world championship,” he said. “You can’t have it both ways.”
He pointed to the recent movement to include titleholders and challengers, arguing that fighters who leave the customary route are giving up some of what boxing has historically valued most.
“Legacy will always be the answer,” Hearn said.
This line leads to a real fight under the headlines. Zuffa can offer money, platform power and stern promotion via TKO. Time-honored boxing still offers belts, rankings and the story behind becoming a champion.
Many competitors will try to secure both if possible. Hearn is doubtful whether the balance can be maintained.
Hearn also criticized recent arguments against the Ali Act and said income transparency remains one of the strongest protections for combatants in the current US system.
Whether fans agree with Hearn or not, he touched on something real. Boxing may be heading down two separate paths, and fighters will soon have to decide which is more vital.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most vital fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Boxing
Moses Itauma is open to fighting the “legend” KO artist who wants to test his beard
Published
3 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Moses Itauma is willing to face the uncompromising heavyweight veteran after his last fight, a methodical fifth-round stoppage victory over Jermaine Franklin.
The 21-year-old showed his world-class potential last month, scoring a third-round knockout before stopping the typically tough Franklin with a powerful uppercut.
Itauma has since been named mandatory challenger for the WBO title, putting him in pole position to face the winner of the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois fight at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on May 9.
However, this highly developed talent is ranked No. 1 in the WBA and No. 2 in the WBC, which gives him several options to consider before his next assignment.
WITH Itauma is reportedly expected to return in JulySeveral candidates are already being considered as potential opponents, including the likes of Murat Gassiev and Filip Hrgovic.
As for a potential fight with Deontay Wilder, Itauma said DAZN in preparations for the American’s fight with Derek Chisora, that he would be open to fighting him.
“If he wins, yes. You have to weigh the risk against the reward. What do you get [from fighting] his?
“He is a legend in the sport and I really respect him, but you have to weigh the pros and cons.”
After suffering two knockdowns and beating Chisora by split decision earlier this month, former world champion Wilder is looking for another chance.
I’m talking to ESPNThe 40-year-old said he was not in the mood to avoid potential opponents, including Itauma, who made a huge impression on him against Franklin.
“I’m a heavyweight. All the other characters are heavyweights. Why not? I’m not [dodging] anyone.
“I didn’t know who Moses was, but I saw his last fight with Franklin… What a damn KO. He seems like a potential champion. Why not test him?”
Since their confused encounter, Chisora has demanded an immediate rematch with Wilder, who will likely face an alternate opponent in his next fight.
Boxing
Jared Anderson withdraws from May 9 fight with a torn bicep
Published
5 hours agoon
April 26, 2026
Ring Magazine reports that Anderson withdrew from his fight with Solomon Dacres after suffering a bicep injury. The 10-round heavyweight bout was scheduled for Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
Anderson (18-1, 15 KO) was looking for another step back after a knockout loss to Martin Bakole in 2024. Instead, the 26-year-old now faces another delay at a bad time in his career.
The fight at Dacres was not a world-class test, but it had value. Anderson needed rounds, activity and a consistent win on a major heavyweight card. Now that’s gone, and the injury gives critics more room to question where his career is headed.
The reaction from boxing fans was fierce, with several responses pointing out Anderson’s injury history and durability. Some questioned whether his body would hold up in the heavyweight division. Others suggested he might have to consider considering the cruiserweight division if physical problems persist.
It may be tough, but it’s the kind of failure that changes the way you view your prospect. Anderson still has talent, but he’s no longer talked about as a pure future heavyweight star. Now he’s trying to prove he can stay vigorous long enough to rebuild.
Moving to Queensberry and fighting in the UK seemed like a desperate attempt to find a novel environment that could boost his confidence. But this bicep injury is a disaster because it adds another year of rust to a psyche that already looked feeble. You won’t rebuild your self-confidence at the gym.
A torn bicep effectively means Jared Anderson’s career will be in frigid storage until the end of 2026. Recovery from this type of surgery usually takes six to nine months before a player can even think about hitting a full-power shot with that hand.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most significant fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
Eddie Hearn warns that Zuffa athletes could lose their world title eligibility
Moses Itauma is open to fighting the “legend” KO artist who wants to test his beard
Jarred Anderson and Solomon Dacres’ fight was canceled due to injuries
Trending
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis1 year agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card



