Naoya Inoue expresses relief after huge win against Nakatani

Naoya Inoue expresses relief after huge win against Nakatani

Undisputed super-bantamweight Champion Naoya Inoue says he is relieved after defending his world titles against fellow Japanese fighter, Junto Nakatani last weekend.

Rated by some as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, Inoue says there was so much pressure leading up to his latest fight.

“I’m very relieved. Nakatani is one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in Japan who has risen through the ranks. There was so much pressure not to lose and I’m relieved to have won.”
“The Monster” as he is otherwise known, defeated Nakatani via unanimous decision after the judges scored the fight 116-112, 116-112, and 115-113.

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The undisputed champion says the fight with his countryman was all about maintaining his mental stamina…
“I was fighting while checking the points with my team. In rounds 8,9, and 10, I thought it might be okay to give up a few points because I felt that I started very well and that I was winning the fight.
“My mental stamina was more depleted than my physical stamina in that fight, that’s how tense the twelve rounds were. It was a technical battle of hitting and trying not to get hit. We were both enjoying it,” explained the champion.
Inoue also showed his respect and admiration of Nakatani, saying that he will become a super-bantamweight champion someday.
The 33-year-old has achieved everything there is to achieve in the sport of boxing, but admits that his career is far from over as he sets out to claim even more history.
“I’m not sure if this fight means history yet, but down the line we may think that history was made in this fight. My boxing career hasn’t reached its end just yet.
“I will discuss my future plans with my team and then move forward from there. For me, this is a blank slate.”

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