Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani LIVE: Start time, undercard, fight updates and results today – UK Times

If you’re also into mixed martial arts, the UFC is hosting a Fight Night in Perth, Australia.

The prelims have been ticking along nicely, and the main card will lead to a mouthwatering main event: home favourite Jack Della Maddallena vs KO artist Carlos Prates.

In Steve Bunce’s preview for Indy Sport, he wrote:

“It is hard to back against Inoue and the inevitable bowing of 55,000 adoring fans at the end.”

However, Bunce also noted: “In many ways, an Inoue defeat would be refreshing, the rematch ridiculous, and – perhaps –Nakatani’s timing is just right…”

For our money, Inoue and Nakatani are both among the 10 best boxers in the world, regardless of weight.

But where does each man rank on our pound-for-pound list? And will they change positions later today?

From Steve Bunce’s preview for Indy Sport:

“This morning in Tokyo, 55,000 people will sit down in silence for the greatest Japanese fight in history.

“The Tokyo Dome is sold out; the fight will stop a nation and the pay-per-view numbers might set a global record. The Japanese boxing renaissance is in full and beautiful flow: Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are their two biggest stars.

“It is the type of fight that can be compared to the long-overdue showdown between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in their ‘Fight of the Century’ over 50 years ago. It is also, arguably, the biggest fight to take place anywhere in the world between two boxers without direct USA or UK interest.

“It feels epic, the numbers are off the scale.”

Naoya Inoue (C) vs Junto Nakatani (undisputed super-bantamweight titles)

Takuma Inoue (C) vs Kazuto Ioka (WBC bantamweight champion)

Yoshiki Takei vs Dekang Wang (super-bantamweight)

Sora Tanaka vs Jin Sasaki (welterweight)

Kosuke Tomioka and Shogo Tanaka fight to split draw

Toshiki Shimomachi def. Reiya Abe via majority decision

Yuito Moriwaki def. Deok No Yun via split decision

Inoue is a heavy favourite with all the major UK betting sites, with Nakatani a best price of 7/2 to emerge victorious.

Odds via Betfred. The Independent vets betting sites for usability, security and responsible gambling tools. You can claim free bets to use across a range of sports. Please read the terms.

The action will stream live exclusively on DAZN, with plans starting at £15.99 per month. The fight card has not been announced as a DAZN pay-per-view event, meaning it is available to any DAZN subscriber.

Inoue vs Nakatani takes place at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.

TV coverage is due to begin at 10.40am BST (2.40am PT / 4.40am CT / 5.40am ET), with main-event ring walks expected at 1pm BST (5am PT / 7am CT / 8am ET).

Another similarity between Inoue, 33, and Nakatani, 28, is their dominance in multiple divisions; Inoue previously reigned as undisputed bantamweight champion and held gold at two lower weights, while Nakatani has held belts in three divisions, including a unified-title run at bantamweight.

Last time out, however, southpaw Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) struggled on his super-bantamweight debut, while – at the same event – Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) eased to victory. What do those performances mean for today’s showdown?

Find out right here with our live updates and results.