Inoue-Nakatani Lands Inoue-Ioka Undercard Fight

One of the biggest all-Japanese fights in boxing history is officially set. WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue will defend his title against former four-division world champion Kazuto Ioka on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. The fight will serve as a major co-feature on the undercard of the blockbuster showdown between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani.

The bout instantly became one of the most talked-about matchups in Japanese boxing. Takuma Inoue, the younger brother of pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue, will be making the first defense of the WBC bantamweight title he captured last year. Meanwhile, the veteran Ioka enters the fight chasing history after already winning world titles in four weight divisions.

For Ioka, the stakes could be monumental. A victory would make the 37-year-old the first Japanese male boxer to win world titles in five different weight classes, adding another historic achievement to a decorated career that began in 2009.

The fight will take place as part of what many are calling the biggest boxing event ever staged in Japan. The main event between undisputed champion Naoya Inoue and unbeaten three-division champion Junto Nakatani is expected to headline a massive stadium show at the Tokyo Dome, a rare venue for boxing in the country due to its enormous capacity.

With multiple Japanese world champions sharing the stage and several all-Japan matchups scheduled across the card, the May 2 event is shaping up to be a landmark night for the sport in Japan. And with Takuma Inoue defending his title against a national icon in Ioka, the undercard bout alone has the potential to be one of the most significant fights in the nation’s boxing history.