Boxing
Both Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani win and set megafight for 2026
Published
5 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.
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Boxing
Peter Fury says Tyson needs someone who can deliver the attack before Joshua
Published
47 minutes agoon
June 6, 2026
Peter Fury believes that Tyson Fury should face a significant test if he decides to fight one more time before his planned clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury returned to the ring earlier this year after spending all of 2025 in retirement. He outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds in April, and a long-awaited clash with Joshua is expected later this year.
As some fans questioned whether Fury should fight another fight before facing Joshua, Peter Fury said there would be little value in a gentle touch.
“Well, definitely someone who is hard-wearing and can hit back, because a walk in the park won’t get you anywhere,” Peter Fury said in an interview with SPORT Boxing, discussing Tyson’s potential fleeting opponent.
“The only thing that’s going to come out of this is me walking around the ring and saying well, I’ve got to get in the ring again, that’s all.”
Peter didn’t mention any specific names, but he made it clear that he believes any opponent should be able to hold their own and force Fury to be on his guard for the fight with Joshua.
The former heavyweight champion is coming off a unanimous decision win over Makhmudov in his comeback fight and could return one more time before facing Joshua.
Joshua is also preparing to return to the ring. The two-time heavyweight champion is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25 as he looks to build momentum towards a potential clash with Fury.
If Fury decides to fight early, Peter Fury’s view is elementary: there is no point in fighting an opponent who poses no challenge.
“A walk in the park gets you nowhere,” said Peter Fury. “Definitely someone who is hard-wearing and can hit back.”

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
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Last updated: 6/06/2026 at 2:19 am
Boxing
Anthony Joshua lists 5 heavyweight fighters he is targeting after the fight with Tyson Fury
Published
3 hours agoon
June 6, 2026
Anthony Joshua will return to action next month as he looks to revive his highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury by knocking out Albania’s Kristian Prenga. If he is successful in both of these fights, Joshua has five opponents in mind for 2027.
Since his failed attempt to dethrone Daniel Dubois to become a three-time world heavyweight champion in September 2024, Joshua has only made one appearance; winning six rounds in a gimmick fight against YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul.
Now, “AJ” returns to the chase ranks and looks to remind fight fans of his pedigree and strength, starting with a July “tune-up” against Prengi, who is expected to pose a minor threat before his November showdown with “The Gypsy King.”
I’m talking to Ring MagazineJoshua mentioned the five “gigantic fights” he is looking forward to after his feud with Fury ends.
“For me and Fury, he can’t be the one [left]because I know if I stay here long enough there will be a rematch with [Daniel] Dubois, there is a potential Fabio [Wardley] to fight is Agit [Kabayel] to fight there as long as he becomes champion, I like how gigantic that would be.
“Exists [Moses] Itauma’s fight as he nears the rankings is still there [Deontay] Wilder fight there. There will be massive fights.
“Fury is just another number and what I’m trying to say is that I don’t put him on a pedestal, he’s not above anyone, everyone stands in my way, everyone is on the same level. I don’t put him above anyone.”
The Joshua-Prenga event will take place on Saturday, July 25, with the novel fight location being Jeddah since the event date has been confirmed. despite earlier announcements that the gala would take place in Riyad.
Boxing
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2. Date and venue booked in Las Vegas
Published
3 hours agoon
June 6, 2026
After months of delays, silence and changing plans, the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 fight finally has a date and place booked.
Manny Pacquiao Promotions has placed the Sept. 25 date and the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s official calendar for the proposed rematch, giving the long-talked-about event its most concrete development since Floyd Mayweather publicly stated the fight should be finalized within 48 hours.
Almost a month has passed since these comments and now fans can look forward to Friday night’s world-famous boxing event.
September 25
The stipulation represents another step forward in a fight that has spent most of 2026 waiting for what Pacquiao adviser Sean Gibbons previously described to WBN as “Floyd Time.”
Pacquiao’s team initially revealed plans for a Netflix-backed rematch before Mayweather finally confirmed the project while promoting his Mike Zambidis exhibition.
However, despite approving the concept, Mayweather has offered little publicly since then.
It’s worth noting that Mayweather’s promotions were not mentioned in the latest booking announcement.
T-Mobile Arena
The selection of T-Mobile Arena also marks a departure from the original 2015 competition, which was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
A quick check by World Boxing News of the T-Mobile Arena schedule currently shows no conflicting event scheduled for September 25.
That said, boxing fans have seen this story before.
While September 19 was previously linked to the rematch, the date was ultimately set by Hall of Fame rock band The Eagles.
I’m still waiting for Floyd
For now, the booking represents the clearest sign that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 remains on track.
Pacquiao’s team has continued to publicly push for the event, while Mayweather has largely avoided talks since confirming Netflix’s course of action.
Time will tell if Floyd decides to give this fight the same public support he will give Pacquiao’s team.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
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