UNDISPUTED CHAMPION NAOYA INOUE CONFIRMS "READY STATE" AHEAD OF BLOCKBUSTER TOKYO DOME CLASH
A historic showdown: 32-0 champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani clash at the Tokyo Dome. Get the latest predictions and hype.
Everyone’s buzzing about the Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani showdown. It’s not just a big deal in Japan; it’s the kind of fight that’ll have the whole boxing world glued to their screens. They’re set to meet at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, and people are calling this the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. You can feel the hype.
Both Inoue and Nakatani come in unbeaten, with matching records of 32–0. That alone turns this into something special. Inoue’s undisputed super bantamweight title is up for grabs, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Everyone’s got an opinion: fighters, experts, fans, and now the Moloney brothers from Australia have jumped in with their predictions. Jason Moloney knows what it’s like to face Inoue. Back in 2020, he shared the ring with him in Vegas and got stopped in the seventh. Jason respects Nakatani’s style; it’s awkward, rangy, and tricky to handle. He wonders how Inoue will crack that code but, honestly, he doesn’t see anyone beating Inoue right now. “As good as Nakatani is, I don’t think anyone can beat Inoue at the moment. I see Inoue winning the fight,” Jason said.
He talked about how Inoue’s just so well-rounded. Good at everything, no matter where the fight goes. Still, Jason pointed out Inoue’s willingness to trade his aggression makes him fun to watch, but it’s got him hurt in recent fights. Even so, Jason’s sticking to his prediction: Nakatani will have moments, but he’s backing Inoue.
Andrew Moloney fought Nakatani last year and went the distance. He sees Inoue as explosive ones with that snap in their movement and punches. Andrew respects Nakatani’s size, his speed, and his power but thinks Inoue’s footwork and explosiveness will be the difference. “Inoue’s explosiveness and foot speed will be the edge, closing the distance and letting go of those dynamite punches.”
Both Moloney brothers agree. Inoue’s got what it takes to win.
This fight’s not just about impressive records; it’s got two guys who’ve dominated their weight divisions. Inoue’s seen as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters right now. Nakatani’s got size, reach, and that unpredictable style, which could throw Inoue off. And since both men can finish a fight, expect real fireworks. This isn’t one to miss.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR JOSHUA VS. DEONTAY WILDER HAVE COLLAPSED; JOSHUA TARGETS FURY FOR NOVEMBER
The decade-long pursuit of Wilder vs Joshua has ended. With AJ targeting Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder now eyes a clash with Andy Ruiz.
After nearly a decade of attempts, the prospect of Deontay Wilder facing Anthony Joshua has finally fallen apart. As chronicled by World Boxing News from start to finish, this fight just isn’t happening anymore.
Joshua’s focus is shifting. By 2026, he’s aiming for a major British showdown with Tyson Fury, which means Wilder’s chances of being his next opponent are slim. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has essentially dismissed the idea of Wilder as a tune-up fight, leaving Wilder out of the equation for the Londoner’s upcoming plans.
Joshua is expected to have a warm-up bout this summer before engaging in two fights against Fury. By the time Joshua is back on the scene for a world title shot, Wilder will be close to 42 years old, pushing him to look elsewhere.
That opens the door for other contenders. Moses Itauma, a fellow Brit, has stepped forward, expressing interest in facing Wilder. It’s a risky move, given Wilder's power, and some see it as a misstep for the Bronze Bomber.
More intriguing, though, is a possible showdown in the US against Andy Ruiz Jr. Talks about that fight have floated around since 2020, delayed first by the Fury-Joshua trilogy and then by contractual issues on Ruiz’s side. When negotiations were alive, financial disagreements caused a breakdown, but fan interest has remained strong. World Boxing News reported a surge in fan demand, generating millions of impressions, pushing for this matchup.
Following their recent face-off at Allegiant Stadium in September, Wilder vs. Ruiz looks like a viable path if either aims to work back toward a heavyweight title opportunity.
With Joshua out of the picture, Wilder’s next steps are under close watch. Suggestions of a rematch with Derek Chisora haven’t gained much traction. Whether he goes after an up-and-comer like Itauma or revisits the Ruiz rivalry, that choice will be critical in determining how Wilder reasserts himself in the heavyweight division.
A title shot isn’t off the table, but the next fight has to be carefully chosen to keep those chances alive.
LAWRENCE OKOLIE FACES CAREER-ENDING FOUR-YEAR BAN AFTER TESTING POSITIVE FOR GHRP-2
Lawrence Okolie’s heavyweight debut is in ruins after a positive test for GHRP-2. Discover the potential ban and fight fallout.
Lawrence Okolie’s career hangs in the balance after he failed a drug test.
Days before he was set to fight Tony Yoka in Paris, the former cruiserweight world champ tested positive for GHRP-2, a banned substance that triggers the release of human growth hormone (HGH). That test result got him pulled from Saturday’s bout right away. HGH can give boxers a bigger edge by boosting muscle and trimming fat, and it’s notoriously tough to spot in tests.
Okolie, who’s also held a bridgerweight world title, is now looking at a possible four-year ban if the evidence shows he cheated. Even if he can prove he didn’t take it on purpose, he’s still facing up to two years out of the ring. After news broke, the 33-year-old Olympian pointed the finger at injury treatment.
“Before anyone jumps to conclusions, I want to explain that after my bicep injury last year, I picked up an elbow injury on the same arm during this camp,” he said. “I got treatment for that, and now here we are. I really hope people see sense. I’ll work with all the right authorities, and I’m sure the investigation will clear me. No more comments for now. Thanks for all the support. See you soon.”
Okolie’s story is a familiar one for boxing. He was working at McDonald’s in 2012, watching Anthony Joshua grab Olympic gold, and four years later, Okolie himself was at the Rio Games, making it to the last 16. After that, he turned pro and quickly picked up the British, Commonwealth, and European cruiserweight belts.
His big moment came in 2021, when he stopped Krzysztof Glowacki for his first world title, defending it three times. But his cruiserweight reign ended in 2023, outpointed by Chris Billam-Smith in Bournemouth. He bounced back, taking the bridgerweight crown, then jumped up to heavyweight, eyeing a shot at another world title after three straight wins.
That plan is up in smoke for now. Promoter Frank Warren found out about the positive test on Monday and tried to salvage the show, but with Okolie out, he just couldn’t do it. The whole event, including a fight for rising Irish heavyweight Adam Olaniyan, got the chop.
“He’ll have to go through a hearing once they set it up. The whole thing’s a mess, but that’s how it is,” Warren said. As a side note, Tony Yoka, who beat Joe Joyce for Olympic gold in Rio, isn’t new to controversy himself; he served a year-long ban back in 2018 after missing three drug tests.
