Junto Nakatani (32-1) is due to undergo surgery this week after sustaining a fractured left orbital bone during his unanimous decision loss to Naoya Inoue (33-0) on May 2, with the injury expected to push a potential rematch back to 2027.
Nakatani’s trainer Rudy Hernandez confirmed the fracture. The damage is believed to have occurred in the 10th round following an accidental clash of heads, with Inoue targeting the area through the final rounds of the fight. Nakatani gutted out all 12 rounds despite competing with the injury, dropping a unanimous decision to suffer his first loss. While the three-division champion experienced his first loss, his camp is keen to secure the rematch.
“If we don’t beat him in the rematch, I will never train fighters again. I will quit,” Hernandez