Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani shared the spotlight at Friday’s press conference for The Ring V: Night of the Samurai, where both champions hinted that a long-awaited showdown could finally take place in 2026 - provided they win their respective bouts on December 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The blockbuster card, staged at the 22,000-seat Mohammed Abdo Arena, will feature three world title fights and stream live on DAZN, with additional broadcasts on Lemino in Japan and via PPV for non-subscribers. The press event also introduced all six Japanese boxers set to compete next month, including the Tsutsumi brothers, Hayato and Reito, who joined Inoue and Nakatani in addressing the media.
Both undefeated at 31-0, Inoue and Nakatani are on a collision course for one of the biggest all-Japanese fights in history. Fresh off a dominant points win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, Inoue next faces Mexico’s David Picasso.
“He’s a very aggressive fighter, it won’t be an easy fight but I’ll do my best,” Inoue said through a translator. When asked about moving up in weight after Picasso, he added, “First of all, I’ll concentrate on Picasso and then a big match in 2026. We’ll talk to my team, step-by-step discussing with them.”
For now, the focus remains on December - but if both Inoue and Nakatani prevail, 2026 could open with one of the most anticipated showdowns in modern Japanese boxing.
Image Credit: Aflosport