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SportsTranscript
00:06This is for you, Richard.
00:07Okay, boxers are real with the instructions in the dressing room.
00:11This is no buttercup business here.
00:13Punches the land here are good, punches the land here are good.
00:17They might command, touch him up, scoop back.
00:24Light the touch paper.
00:26The day has come.
00:32The most elite of global matchups.
00:3564 fights, 64 wins, both undefeated, both multiweight world champions.
00:4451 huge knockouts entwined early and late electric styles pound for pound kings.
00:53What on earth happens?
00:56Look at why that stance of Nakatani is.
00:58I'm trying to sit on that back foot.
01:00Really making that target so far away there for Inoue.
01:07Jab, timing, accuracy, space, distance, defense, IQ, experience, so many imponderables.
01:20Inoue, who has reigned as this world super bantamweight champion for a long time.
01:28only the second time at 8 stone 10 for Big Bang.
01:33Junto Nakatani, supreme for so long.
01:38But can he do it at this number two pound for pound level, if that's what Inoue is?
01:45There's two big punches with a boxing break.
01:47That's why they're not willing to really take that risk yet.
01:52And really good look at each other.
01:53They know a mistake can be costly.
01:55You mentioned the wide stance and that reach advantage from the southpaw of Nakatani.
02:01We know that Inoue is a big super bantamweight with the huge calves.
02:07but the length, the levers of Nakatani.
02:13Look how they both dip down with their legs and that's to engage those bigger muscles.
02:17And when you explode into your shot, the speed, power, with the accuracy as well.
02:26A very dangerous chess match is how Barry described it earlier.
02:31And it started off with huge respect between the pair.
02:35Good jab from Nakatani, who will settle better.
02:44Crowd is still, you can hear the corners.
03:01Jackhammer over right that he loves to throw.
03:03Inoue watch for the body shots creeping in at some point with those high elbows of Nakatani.
03:10Both can hit downstairs hard.
03:13It's Nakatani who's more aware of not taking a shot here from Inoue.
03:17With Inoue though, he's a little bit more assertive.
03:19But he's still taking his time here, not with the rushes.
03:23He can get caught, he can get hurt.
03:25Jabs to the body.
03:27There's that acceleration from Inoue.
03:30He's a master at catching the eye of the judges late on in rounds.
03:34Last few seconds.
03:36Who's nicked this first one?
03:47Tough to score that.
03:49It's hard to split, but maybe just with more intent, you might want to give it to Inoue, possibly, but
03:55nothing really clean landed.
04:01He possibly got hold of the ring, Inoue there, but it was very, very tense.
04:07But he came over the front, at the end of the round, he came over that, that back foot came,
04:11squared him on a little bit.
04:12He made a half a mistake.
04:14Nakatani couldn't make him pay for it, but there's a danger there.
04:17When you miss the shot, Semi comes back with the power these two have.
04:21That's Semi coming back to finish the fight.
04:24Dan Shingo, in the other corner, Rudy Hernandez, who's been with Junto a long, long time.
04:32Based in Southern California, where he loves his Mexican food.
04:37They've taken him as one of their own.
04:40Former son of a restaurateur in Japan, Junto Nakatani.
04:45Big Bang, fight number 33, trying to become the undisputed Super Phantomweight champion,
04:52in the gold and white.
04:53If you need the identification, the bleach blonde as ever of Noway Inoue, looking for his 28th knockout
05:01in 33 fights.
05:03Neither has ever lost as a professional.
05:07And Inoue didn't lose many as an amateur either.
05:11I think he won 75 and lost about seven.
05:13He rolled in close to Inoue and then come back out.
05:16He was there.
05:17He had the chance to let his hands go, I think.
05:19He was having a look.
05:21I didn't think he'd realize he was in range to hit.
05:26He's naturally the bigger hitter, Inoue.
05:28Almost 50 knockouts in the unpaid ranks.
05:32Unheard of, really.
05:34And he's just been a monster, hasn't he?
05:36For Nakatani, he's only three behind him.
05:4024 knockouts as a pro for Nakatani.
05:42And the beauty is that they can come early, especially for Nakatani.
05:47Nine inside the first couple of rounds, but they can also come late.
05:51And Inoue does find that at times too.
05:54He's been on the floor a couple of times, the champion, the legend.
05:58But he's gone up and found a way which has added to the myth of the man.
06:05That 12th round knockouts of Maloney from Nakatani was unbelievable.
06:11It really was.
06:15Power carries for both.
06:17Because the concentration is always there, that's why.
06:24Champ there from Nakatani, moved well with his southpaw feet.
06:29That's what he's got to try and do.
06:31Inoue has boxed Bortsiders before, but anyone as good as Nakatani, probably not.
06:43Styles make fights.
06:46That suspicion, he's a big underdog here, Nakatani.
06:50But if he can get into a flow, into a rhythm,
06:54and utilise the reach advantage in the right way,
06:58but he's got to do it for 12 rounds.
07:00Stop, stop, stop.
07:00It's not a good body shot.
07:03Inoue with one just before that, with that left hand,
07:06and then Nakatani paid him back with the right hand.
07:09Not as good, but still a scoring shot.
07:11I think this has been a better round for Nakatani.
07:20But again, very, very little in it.
07:31Just the incredible respect between the pair.
07:35And it's been like that all through the build-up.
07:37Inoue again trying to stamp his authority,
07:40the back end of the round.
07:42But didn't he do enough?
07:43Is it one a piece?
07:44How do you split them?
07:45It's a close one now.
07:46And again, Inoue there, he got in through that right hand,
07:49but he can't get the chin, so he's aiming for the chest.
07:53Oh, he made Nakatani, missed by a whisker there, Inoue.
07:59He misses, and he misses.
08:04Nice, nice, nice.
08:14It's an intriguing battle.
08:17The lead foot, the orthodox, the southpaw.
08:19Who can get control of the squared circle,
08:24and who can deliver the cleaner punches?
08:26Because their defence is crucial here,
08:31and they're both normally very, very tight.
08:35Now round three.
08:37I think it's the admiration they've got for each other,
08:39which at some point has got to go out the window.
08:42It's the fear they're getting caught with a big shot.
08:44They're both KO artists, so you know if you get caught clean,
08:47you're going to be put to sleep potentially.
08:53Who's prepared to make that first move?
08:56I was thinking that.
08:57It's still some punch, someone's got to go for it.
08:59But it's easy to say that, because the fear is real here, isn't it?
09:04You can make that mistake.
09:05You can't afford to give that target to the opponent.
09:09If he hits you clean, you could be done for.
09:13But Nakatani, Inoue is pushing the fight a little,
09:16but he is the one coming forward.
09:17Not that that should really be a factor,
09:19scoring punches and everything,
09:20but no one's really landed with anything of any real no-tier so far.
09:24Apologise for the loss of pictures, technical issues,
09:28but back we come.
09:30The jab of Nakatani, good, doubling it up.
09:34Inoue looking for his own orthodox jab.
09:38It's a potent weapon and has been in every one of those world title fights.
09:44What a run he's on.
09:47I want to see Inoue starting to the left a little bit more here.
09:50You see Nakatani flicking that jab, trying to encourage him to come forward
09:53onto that right hand, that left hand side.
10:02Right hand from Inoue, tries to get in close.
10:06And that's the only scoring punch, isn't it, so far?
10:13Good from Inoue, Nakatani just fencing him, not quite committing, which he'll need to do.
10:29That wide stance, it can reduce explosiveness with your punches.
10:33And so if you lean on the back foot when you're tall, makes you a hard attack at the reach.
10:37But it can take away the fluency a little bit as well.
11:08And that, I mean, your reactions might be just a little bit slower.
11:09This is really excellent from Naoya Inoue.
11:15Just the range that his opponents tell us about, that he's so good.
11:20Nakatani tries to come back with the left, but this is a clearer round for Inoue.
11:25Yeah, but there's a good jab there from Nakatani, a nice little boy tap for the body.
11:29Yep, good body shot followed.
11:31There's the smile, the respect between these two great fighters.
11:48First quarter, very tight, Barry.
11:51It is, it is very tight, but you've got to think that Inoue, for me, will have to be up,
11:56wouldn't you?
11:56Yeah.
11:56Just for the more intent with his work, and he has landed with some, nothing heavy, of course,
12:01but some decent right hands, especially to the chest area more than anything else.
12:07But in this round, after he's to the chin, have to take one back though from Nakatani.
12:12Nakatani, I know, he knows Inoue's encouraging that left-hand go, he wants to let it go.
12:19Inoue's, meanwhile, we've got this little treat for you later tonight.
12:23The Chica de Mayo showdown, WBA and WBO World Cruiserweight titles.
12:29David Benavidez, Zerda Ramirez live from Vegas, sandwiched in the middle.
12:35Wolverhampton for Connor Walker and Sam Egginton.
12:39What a battle that's going to be. Very different, of course, to this at the elite, masterclass level,
12:47but still very entertaining. You're getting a bit of everything on the zone today.
12:53I love you for Manu with Ed. Triple the jab up, down, up again.
12:59He's just pushed the foot down on the accelerator, just trying to maneuver Junto Nakatani.
13:09That'll help Nakatani, though, because he needs to be forced at the left-hand go.
13:16Patient from Nakatani hasn't really done anything too deliberate.
13:22Maybe it is that fear of getting caught with one of those huge Inoue shots.
13:27The feet there from Inoue, lovely.
13:30Oh, nice.
13:30All the little movements back.
13:32Nakatani, though, ooze and arse in the crowd.
13:38This one just beginning, you feel, to warm up.
13:47Again, if you're going to touch with that jab for Nakatani, throw that left hand with conviction,
13:52and otherwise make that stamp, stamp, stamp that jab out and step with it.
13:58Make it a weapon.
14:01The touching is to set him up for the left hand.
14:03Yeah, it's touching, isn't it? It's fencing from Nakatani.
14:06There's no real power behind it.
14:08But it's fine if you let that left hand go with belief.
14:10If you're not going to, then make that jab a weapon.
14:17They're in and out in straight lines, but they're small movements,
14:20and he moves so fast with it.
14:23That speed he still has at the age of 33
14:30just comes out the way of that southpaw jab.
14:44Gloves very high, but then springs in Inoue.
14:50Nakatani just caught there.
14:52Good shots from Inoue.
14:54Maybe the most eye-catching so far in this fourth round.
14:58He did the same thing in the last round, but a bit more weight in the shots that time.
15:02Left hand back from Nakatani, though.
15:06You can feel the increase in tempo.
15:10Beginning to try and figure each other out.
15:15Fascinating, isn't it, this?
15:17You can't take your eye off it.
15:19No.
15:21Nothing's happened so far, that's the truth of it.
15:23But the anticipation, they know that they know just
15:27every mistake's going to be possible here.
15:35There's Nakatani who's got to change the little pattern here, I think.
15:40He'll be done for sure.
15:51What they be saying in the corners at this stage, Shingo,
15:56now his dad and Rudy Hernandez in the blue corner.
15:59I think it's easy to say, you've got to be a little bit more assertive for Nakatani, for sure.
16:05But you know, you've got a guy who's punching back with great time and good feet and lots of power.
16:09So, but that, he's got to be, he's got to get that left hand in the place.
16:13Take that step on the outside with the front foot and really throw that jab as a weapon.
16:17He used to move the feet then, throw the left hand.
16:22Nakatani, for Onui, keep changing the level.
16:25So, you know, again, he dips his legs, used as his springboard to come in with the shots,
16:29on an upward direction, having the defend against.
16:36IBF, WBC, WBO, WBA, eight stone, ten belts on the line, property of the man in the black and gold.
16:43Now Inouye, for David Picasso, last time out, has had wins over TJ Germany.
16:51Lewis Neary had him down.
16:53Paul Butler, Nonito Denaire, a couple of times, what crackers they were.
16:57Jamie McDonnell, remember that?
16:59When Jamie, good fighter, was blown away in a round.
17:03What happens now for Inouye against Junto Nakatani?
17:07Big back, gold and white, looks so relaxed beforehand.
17:12Camp's gone perfectly.
17:14Can he deal with the pressure?
17:19Building confidence here in the lay because, again,
17:21that big weapon of Nakatani hasn't been used yet.
17:26He's got a big looping left hand.
17:29That's good from Nakatani.
17:33Can he feel the freedom to utilise it?
17:36May have to take the chance.
17:43I think when the pair begin working, the bodies is going to be really interesting.
17:50I mean, to move those ships away from your chin is always a dangerous move.
17:56So the quickest route, the easiest route, the safest route, is the aim for the chin.
18:00Unless you're getting low, rolling in at the shots.
18:02Right hand from Inouye.
18:05Not enough honor, though, was that a thing.
18:07No.
18:07Just to use the ropes there, Nakatani to swing out the shots.
18:11But you feel that the confidence is flowing now for the monster.
18:18What can Nakatani change up here if he is down on the cards after the court?
18:23It's a mindset.
18:25I think he's thinking more about being safe, which, of course, you have to,
18:28than he is about what should I be doing.
18:30He's trying to react.
18:32And that's understandable.
18:34And not forcing a mistake out of himself that he gets caught.
18:38But also, he's got to start thinking, I got to start making a play here.
18:41But Inouye's thinking the other way.
18:42He's thinking, I've got to be aware of what's coming back.
18:44But I've got to be the first off.
18:45Fought in Scotland, of course, Inouye.
18:47And what some of the opponents have told me that have fought him in the past have said,
18:51you can't quite analyze where he's coming from.
18:54He stands on the edge.
18:55He's away from you.
18:56But he's constantly reassessing the distance, so you can't get yours.
19:01Nakatani, lads, with a couple of body shots.
19:05Marcially blocked by the elbows, but some reddening around the midriff for Inouye.
19:11Nakatani might have to stab downstairs more there.
19:14Gloves up to the chin of Inouye.
19:19Good work from Nakatani.
19:21And a good left hand as well.
19:23Off balance, wasn't heard there, but more positive there.
19:26And it's finished the round here from Nakatani.
19:30Inouye back to that jab.
19:33Speed, timing, fine, fine margins here.
19:49Better from Nakatani.
19:52At times in that round, Inouye playing around.
19:59That's one through the middle.
20:00That's a lovely shot.
20:01And there was a body shot or two as well.
20:03I thought he might have nicked that one Nakatani.
20:05It may be, but I mean, he finished the round strong, and he did.
20:08And that's all you remember, so he might get it.
20:10But I still think that the main part of the round, the beginning of the middle,
20:16I think Inouye was dominant.
20:19Not dominant, he didn't want to be massively dominant,
20:21but I think he was doing more than enough to be winning that round.
20:26How are you seeing it then? Inouye up by three, maybe?
20:30Yeah, I don't know, I say comfortable, it's never comfortable there.
20:33But I got him up, but he's just doing more.
20:35Round six.
20:37But that might be the spring ball here for Nakatani.
20:39He had a bit more success.
20:40He left that left, he let that left hand go a few times,
20:44and that's what he needs to do.
20:45The fast start to round number six.
20:48First couple of rounds were really hard to score.
20:51Three judges at ringside, Raul Katz, senior Patrick Morley,
20:54very experienced Juan Carlos Palayo from Mexico.
20:58Better from Nakatani there, when Inouye came over that front foot,
21:01he whipped that up and cut through the middle.
21:04Again, didn't hand flush, but just doing it, being brave enough to let it go.
21:07I think that's going to be a better, mentally,
21:10for him to want to let his hands go more often.
21:13Three-weight champion, the 28-year-old, five years younger, Big Bang.
21:18Coming off that, great win over Sebastian Hernandez,
21:22but he's looked great at other times, hasn't he?
21:25Going back to 2015, when he turned pro, 11 years,
21:29this would be the night if Nakatani can put it together,
21:34down the stretch, over the second half of the fight.
21:38That was better for Nakatani.
21:39He probably stepped in with that jab,
21:40and knocked the head back there in the ring.
21:43A bit more belief creeping in here.
21:48Neither man hurt, wobbled, really troubled.
21:52But with belief, you become a little bit braver,
21:54and that can work for you, but also that can walk you on to a shot.
22:00Control that IQ from Inouye, holding center ring.
22:07It's that seasoning, and also the natural super bantamweight too.
22:14There's talk of him going up to feather.
22:17I don't know how tidy he is these days at 33,
22:20but looks in incredible shape as ever.
22:24A good round here, Nakatani.
22:25Well, he's light on his feet, isn't he, Nakatani?
22:30Walked into one there, though.
22:31Every time he does that in the way, it works for him.
22:34Jab up, dip the legs, jab down, and then
22:36hits up with the jab to finish off.
22:41Swapping jabs, Nakatani looking for that big looping left.
22:44Hasn't come in with one of his good uppercuts yet.
22:48Maybe that's being saved, Nakatani, but a good jab there.
22:53He's done that left hand goal more often now, Nakatani,
22:56but I tell you, it works beyond a solid jab for him.
22:59I think he's had real patches of success in the last couple of rounds, Nakatani.
23:11A penny for the thoughts of the judges.
23:14How have you got it as we approach the halfway mark?
23:20How tight is this?
23:27Nothing dramatic has happened yet,
23:30but it has been tantalizing and curious and absorbing.
23:36Good work from Nakatani late on.
23:39First half of the super fight in the history books.
23:4455,000 packed in the big egg at Tokyo Dome.
23:48Who's going to win it?
23:51I mean, again, even the wrongs, you think he won that.
23:56He didn't win it by much, didn't win it by much at all.
24:00I thought Nakatani would have had a really good round there.
24:03Nakatani's truly the very start of the round.
24:08I think he's just resting his eyes, Terence.
24:11He wants a little bit more action.
24:15And it has been the chess match.
24:18The high respect for the pair.
24:21Swirks at his legs there, Inoue.
24:25Who may be in front on the cards?
24:27I think he is.
24:29Yeah, I think so.
24:31There's the smile from Terence.
24:33Wakey, wakey, sir.
24:34Come on.
24:35Six rounds of fine boxing ahead.
24:38Who is going to take the initiative in round seven.
24:41If Inoue is ahead on the cards, it's got to be Nakatani.
24:45But I think there is, there's glimpses that he can trouble Inoue at times
24:52with that southpaw reach and style.
24:54It's maybe the belief, Barry.
24:56Yeah, it is, and a good right hook there from Nakatani.
24:59Again, coming in under the combination.
25:01And there again also, this time when Inoue came over that front foot,
25:06he let that left hand go, Nakatani.
25:08It wasn't a powerful shot, but it's a scoring punch.
25:10And it just makes you more relaxed and build into a fight.
25:14Over 50 knockouts between them, and neither has been days.
25:19They've cancelled each other out so far.
25:22The jab to body and head from the exceptionally talented Inoue,
25:28who's been boxing since he was a kid.
25:31Nakatani more into karate as a child.
25:36But what a southpaw technician he has become.
25:41Good work from Nakatani.
25:44Combinations now, beginning to flow more than he was in the early rounds.
25:48Good block of the winner, didn't he?
25:49He kept the gloves up most and high.
25:51He's having a good start to the rounds again though, Nakatani.
25:54Good shot there from Inoue, 7-0 with the jab.
25:58See short thudding punches from Inoue and you feel Waller's just going to crack through like that,
26:05that could trouble his opponent.
26:11I mean, he's a lovely guy out of the ring, but they don't call him monster inside for no reason,
26:16Barry.
26:25I've loved the dignity and respect that the two have shown each other in the buildup.
26:29Good work from Inoue, both having their moments as the seventh just starts to light fire.
26:36You've got to be careful here, Nakatani.
26:38He had a good start of the round, but Inoue is starting to take over again.
26:42And a bit of blood from the nose of Nakatani.
26:48It's just so hard to have a clear round victorious against Inoue, isn't it?
26:54He just always finds something.
26:56And he takes the foot on the inside when he throws the jab in the way, which is,
26:59he could do it, but it makes it more difficult for me to turn the body onto the right hand,
27:04but he gets away with it because he dips low and over to his right-hand side.
27:08It makes it hard for the counter off it.
27:09It makes it hard for the counter off it.
27:16Four-weight champion against a would-be four-weight champion if you could pull this off.
27:21Junto Nakatani, all the treasure around ringside paraded beautifully
27:27on one of the great ring walks so far of 2026 from Inoue and his team.
27:34And you remember all of them around him in his locker room,
27:37every single detail of the cap. Perfect.
27:46Now you've got to be a little bit more aggressive, do you understand?
27:49You've got to start letting those hands go.
27:51You've got to start letting those hands go, says Rudy Hernandez.
27:55I think they believe they're behind.
28:05And he's always been a big admirer, hasn't he?
28:09Avidoué, Rudy.
28:11He's saying aim for the chest and the little hand go.
28:13He's going to come at you.
28:14You've got to aim for that chest and throw the sock and try to fight on the inside.
28:19Wolverhampton, a cracking match from show tonight.
28:23And what a blend of styles that will be.
28:26If this is a high-class chess match, Walker-Eddington will be a war in Wolverhampton a little later on.
28:33Can't wait for that. Styles make fights and those two are absolutely locking horns
28:41from the first foul into round eight. This is flying by this one.
28:47I guess we want a bit more. We want some fireworks.
28:51We want some drama, some jeopardy.
28:53But you've got to admire what they're doing.
28:56Yeah, well, yeah, yeah, yeah.
28:58Okay, that's better. It has been the greatest fight.
29:00It's the anticipation that's making it interesting.
29:02That's the truth of it.
29:05Going for it now, though.
29:09That's Nakatani. The corner told him, you've got to start making inroads here.
29:13You've got to be more aggressive.
29:14He was at the start of the last round, and he took his foot off the gas,
29:17and I know he sort of took over at the end of the round.
29:20Yeah, pockets in the fight for Nakatani, but maybe more sustained, more organised in a way.
29:27But at some point, it's easy to say when you're on this side of the ropes,
29:31and to be brave, at some point, in a fight of this magnitude,
29:36you've got to let your hands go.
29:37If you're not winning the fight because you're not throwing the punches.
29:40That's what's happening for Nakatani here. He's not throwing enough.
29:46Beautiful from Inoue.
29:48Swervelling it up there.
29:51Who's in class at times, as he seems to,
29:56on every occasion, we're lucky enough to witness this guy.
30:03Good shot there from Inoue. Solid right hand.
30:08He steps in all the time, and Nakatani should lift the elbow,
30:13and bring that right hook down, chop it down.
30:15He does that.
30:16Look at that, getting out of range, and back in,
30:19Inoue, with these fast punches.
30:24That's a nice trick, that is going too low.
30:26Rolling too low, below the waist. You're not allowed to do it.
30:28They always get away with it.
30:32Both of them, come in and out.
30:36Brains ticking over.
30:39Who wants this more though?
30:40And you feel that Nakatani might just have to grab this fight by the scruff of the neck.
30:45See that jam knocked him back there from Inoue.
30:48Shot though, good right hook.
30:50Yep.
30:51This is what he finds just occasionally, Nakatani.
30:56But can he go for it?
30:58See that, they've left the tempo here, they're all the pair of them, haven't they?
31:01Good round the eighth, Nakatani off balance there, just falling in.
31:06Inoue couldn't make him pay.
31:10It's been a good use of the jab this round, particularly from Inoue,
31:14but back comes Nakatani at the end of the eighth,
31:17and he's caught Inoue just in the corner.
31:20Looks out of the crowd, Inoue.
31:22This is good from Nakatani.
31:33Energy, tiredness, fatigue, all those sort of things could come into the championship rounds.
31:38Inoue's been in more times at a slightly higher level,
31:42but Nakatani with a big smile there, I think he enjoyed that round.
31:45Yeah, he enjoyed the end of the round, but for me, the bulk of the round,
31:51I knew he was having the better of it, I thought.
31:53But he did finish strong, and that's quite important to finish strong in the round,
31:56because you're never quite sure what the judges have been seeing.
31:58If they see a closer and you have a strong finish, you quite often get the nod.
32:10crowd are enjoying the respect, this is a sport, this crowd are
32:18really appreciative, aren't they, of what they're watching.
32:25Look at that tingle, isn't it, at any time someone might land with that big shot.
32:30Look at that big shot.
32:32Shingo and Rudy have done their best, over to the boys, to these two marquee fighters,
32:39the gold and white of the southpaw, Juncto Nakatani probably behind on the cards,
32:45we don't know, into the ninth round, four to go, but he's been springing into action more and more,
32:51and it's a good start to this session, Inoue just on the back foot here.
33:00Will there be a knockdown? Will there be some drama in these final few minutes?
33:07And could that swing the cards?
33:15Can't take foot off the gas, can't he, Nakatani.
33:20Trying to push Nakatani back with that solid long right jab.
33:27How do you think the cards will read at this sort of stage?
33:29Oh, it's a lovely combination there for that, it's a great thing in charge.
33:33I think, I think he's up, maybe.
33:39He gives Nakatani three rounds, maybe.
33:42He's certainly enjoying this one, and he did the eighth.
33:44Nakatani coming on stronger, second half of this.
33:49Maybe Inoue slightly tight at Super Banta way like this.
33:53The seventh defence, he's been here a long time.
33:58Back he comes though, just when Nakatani begins to flow, Inoue will find something.
34:04Good combination.
34:06Blocked on, we'd say the body shot was good, wasn't it?
34:08But the action is a real tempo now compared to the early three or four rounds.
34:14And that's done to Nakatani, then his hands going, and Inoue's had to respond to that.
34:20But he's trying to push Inoue back, I think that's a positive sign there for Nakatani.
34:26Tries to do the uppercut for the first time there.
34:28Inoue as he came in, Nakatani clever thinking.
34:33Nice.
34:33I think the southpaw base in California has got the better of the ninth round so far.
34:37A minute to go, jab from Inoue.
34:47I know we can't feel the punch in there, of course, but the power hasn't been a factor yet.
34:52I say yet because you're never quite sure.
34:55It's been the fear of the power that they haven't really committed to the attacks.
35:09And Inoue has more recently, but still those 27 knockouts.
35:14Good work from Nakatani.
35:16In and out, quality punches.
35:19Arguably the best round of the fight.
35:21Yeah, short left hand there for Nakatani as well.
35:23Big bang looking for the big left hand.
35:26And Junto Nakatani is beginning to really warm into this fight.
35:32And swinging long as well, that's important for him.
35:36Swinging long and with confidence.
35:39Last two or three rounds have been better for Nakatani.
35:42He definitely won that one.
35:43How many has he won on the judges' cards?
35:53He's a sneaky right hand there from Inoue.
35:57It was Nakatani about the better of the round for sure.
36:01Busy, committed to his attacks.
36:07Just brushing the whiskers out of Inoue.
36:10But the thought and the belief is that the lend of the hands
36:13throw is important for Nakatani.
36:15I know for Inoue, for me, he has to be really positive
36:18at the start of this first round, this next round.
36:24Start of throwing threes.
36:34Fast off his stall is Junto Nakatani.
36:38Now Inoue looks up at the screens.
36:41This is crucial now.
36:44The last nine minutes, Junto Nakatani has revved it up.
36:48He's certainly changed things, which is what we asked.
36:51Could he do it?
36:52Well, the answer is most definitively, yes.
36:55What now from Noya Inoue?
36:59Undefeated records.
37:01Legendary status so much on the line, Barry.
37:05It is, but Inoue looks a little bit flat, doesn't he?
37:08I think Nakatani is really oozing confidence, but back comes Inoue with a combination.
37:16Again, just when you think Nakatani is ready to strike, Inoue comes back.
37:22And the extra getting better and better, and Nakatani beginning to land.
37:27Big shots, he's planting his feet.
37:30That was a lovely right hook there from Nakatani, knocking the head back there by Inoue.
37:34This is a fabulous stretch in the fight for the challenger, Junto Nakatani, who's beginning to really believe in himself.
37:44No one knew he's boxing more wary than he was.
37:47It's the world reversed.
37:52Wide with his punches, into the danger zone of Nakatani, who's got a smile now.
38:00Remember the younger man, not as many miles on the clock.
38:04He had that first fight at Super Bantawake, Barry, and now he's settling down, and he's getting stronger and stronger.
38:12I know he's pot-shotting a little bit here, and when's he feeling the pace?
38:19Wow.
38:21He's really got the swagger and confidence and authority now. Look at him controlling the ring.
38:27But look at the static. Inoue was, he threw that one-two there, and the right hand dropped onto the
38:32floor, he leaned over the front foot.
38:34Is this the length of time at Super Bantawake? 33 years old, clash of heads. There's a cut, I think.
38:42Oh, that will be terrible. We don't want to spoil it, but there is, just over the left eye,
38:47of Junto Nakatani here in the 10th round.
38:54Ouch.
38:56What a shame. Let's hope it's not too bad, because it's getting better and better this fight.
39:03Yeah, it is, and it's all down to Nakatani. He's the one who started to let his hands go.
39:09That's a nasty cut. It really is.
39:12To be honest, Inoue hasn't been out of the match, I don't think, in the last round.
39:15All this round. Certainly in this round.
39:18Yeah, we're just gonna go back to the neutral corner of the doctor. Look at it.
39:26It should be fine.
39:33It's deep, but it's not in the worst place.
39:37We've seen ones that really are just around the corners of the eyes,
39:44deep on the eyebrows. That's not too bad.
39:47If he's gonna run into the eye, then it's a problem. That's the worry.
39:50But late in the fight, they've got time in the corner to get him through,
39:54and here comes Nakatani. It's only gonna make him fight more furiously.
40:00Yeah, but you gotta be careful there. I think the aggressive approach is the right idea.
40:05We're going two. Mads, you're gonna walk onto a shot.
40:08Body shots there.
40:09I think just stopped Inoue in his tracks. This has been a huge round for Nakatani.
40:18Yeah, we don't have much to work, has he? Anyway, nowhere near.
40:25This is really good clumping hooks from Nakatani.
40:30The momentum has shifted big time.
40:35Now let's see what Nawa Inoue is made of late in this super fight.
40:41He comes back once more, but it's a Nakatani round.
40:46And has he won the last three? And how close is it, Barry?
40:51I think he's close. I thought I'm slightly behind, but he's closed the gap with two rounds to go.
40:55I think this fight's very interesting.
40:58Just keep yourself in there.
40:59It's a lovely right hook, really. Took it well, Mads, Inoue is impressive.
41:03That's a really good shot there from Nakatani. Getting some range on that right hook.
41:08Give it in your range. Don't get too close if you're not in, so you're able to hit.
41:20We all talk about Shingo Inoue, the dad and son relationship, but Rudy Hernandez has been there
41:27from the beginning for Junto Nakatani, and he's coached and coached it well through this fight.
41:35The pits I've heard him talk in the fight has been brilliant, even then, about the range, the range to
41:41punch at.
41:42Don't get too close, punch long.
41:45He's a long history with Japanese fighters. Nawa Inoue springs into action, needs to, in the 11th.
41:51Just to stop the rot a bit and get himself home. How have the three judges got it?
41:59Raul Caiz Senior, Patrick Morley, Juan Carlos Palayo, have you got it?
42:03All around the world, what are you seeing here? Inoue starting to get the combinations going again.
42:10Is he in front for you? Nakatani just takes one there, and the sweat sprays from him,
42:17but back he goes into battle. I'll tell you what, I want 15 rounds now, Barry.
42:22The second half will be better than the first, that's for sure.
42:27Good work from Nakatani. And Inoue, will one of them make a mistake?
42:32Could there be a knockdown that's crucial at this late stage? Both of them have victories
42:38late on in their careers, but again Nakatani with a smile on his face.
42:44Inoue just settled himself better in the 11th.
42:54Big shot there, Inoue, you can see it that blows up with the right hand,
42:58just get some fluency back in his work here. And a good start to the round, Inoue.
43:03Volume from Nakatani there. Inoue just finding maybe crisper punches.
43:10The defences have been so good tonight, and the respect for each other's power,
43:14but it's opening up more in the closing minutes.
43:20A lovely shot, lovely ever come from Inoue.
43:22Beautiful work from Noue Inoue, and this is what he's all about.
43:27We ask the questions, under pressure, in 9 and 10, back he comes in 11,
43:32and the monster having a great patch here.
43:37I think that eye is affecting Nakatani as well, I feel.
43:41I think one or two of these punches have had an effect as well on Nakatani.
43:48This is exceptional from Inoue.
43:51It's going right in his eye, I think, the blow there from Nakatani.
43:54That can't help, but Inoue doesn't care about that.
43:58He's saying, come on then, I'm testing you everywhere,
44:01and he's punching straight into that eye.
44:04You can't see it, it's a free shot, isn't it, for Inoue.
44:06That's what Inoue's got to do.
44:09It's not a tickling competition. On you go, Inoue's pouncing on his prey.
44:16He sees his chance, and this has been a round that has turned it back
44:23in the favour of the champion.
44:26I'm not willing to fight this round, you know.
44:28Yep, could be the pivotal moment.
44:31Oh, wonderful work from Inoue.
44:36Nakatani suffering in the 11th with the blood coming down, which is a shame,
44:42but it's a huge round for the undisputed champion.
44:46Now, Oya in a way, as this one seesaws late on.
44:54It's a nice little clever little flip there with the right hand there from Inoue.
44:59In a really good round, even before the clash there,
45:01I think he had a good round.
45:02It was up and cuts were fantastic.
45:07And that's vintage.
45:09Inoue right there, that shot.
45:21Saturday, June the 13th.
45:24I should let you do this one, shouldn't I?
45:27They should let me go over and do it.
45:30Bam Rodriguez and Vargas, 13th of June.
45:36Bam is on the rise.
45:38Will he fight Noya Inoue one day?
45:43Will Inoue get the decision here?
45:45He's surely up now.
45:47He's had his moments, Nakatani might have put three rounds on the spin together.
45:52He's had the cut, the fight's got better and better.
45:55We're asking for 15 rounds to come back for one day only.
46:01Yeah, that's good for Nakatani, lovely.
46:03You've literally got it.
46:04It's easy to say, forget about that iron, just let your hands go now.
46:07I'll tell you what, the three judges at ringside probably needed,
46:11but you never know with these two.
46:1351 knockouts between them, two and a half minutes to go.
46:17Both of them swinging from the hip.
46:20And this is really exciting now.
46:22It's gone from the chess match and the fireworks have come late.
46:26Now look at those uppercuts from Inoue,
46:28especially with that knee tandem, really fantastic.
46:32What I love is the fact he was under pressure, under the cosh,
46:37and he's answered it, Inoue.
46:39And the change of pattern of a fight is very difficult to do, really.
46:42You have to be a top-level fighter to do it, and he has.
46:45It's like Nakatani did to his credit.
46:47And he's proved he's got off the floor a couple of times in his career to do that, Inoue.
46:51And he's done it after losing two or three rounds, big right hand,
46:55just hitting the whiskers of the chin of Nakatani, who's not quite what he was,
47:02trying desperately.
47:04But the fluency has gone out, and the right hands of Inoue look very dangerous in the 12th.
47:10It shouldn't be a thing, but that momentum is a funny thing,
47:13because the confidence it gives you, and you throw with a different belief.
47:17And again, the Lu is back in his corner, they're going to do.
47:20Again, looking, checking the clock, every second he knows what's happening in the ring,
47:26Naya Inoue.
47:28Good effort from Jinto Nakatani.
47:31We could see this run back.
47:33Naya Inoue should be just a minute or so away from retaining his super bantamweight titles.
47:41We don't know how the three judges have it.
47:44Nakatani's definitely had big moments and rounds.
47:47He's definitely won some.
47:49But has Inoue just done enough, and was that 11th key?
47:53Yeah, I think the clash of heads has been a little bit of a factor there.
47:56But yeah, that 11th, I think, sort of cemented it for Inoue in a close fight in the end.
48:03Most people picked Inoue beforehand.
48:06I read one report that said 8-4 it will be, something like that to Inoue.
48:11Maybe we're going to wait for the three judges last 30 seconds.
48:16It's got better and better as the fight's gone on,
48:19which is why we could see it again, his excellency at ringside.
48:23He knows he's winning, or he feels he's winning.
48:25And there's a smile from Nakatani, almost a respect.
48:31Ten seconds left.
48:34Nakatani has put in a great shift.
48:38But is the great Nauwe Inoue still unbeaten and cementing his place again
48:46in another chapter in his fabled storybook?
48:51I think Rudy Hernandez might know it.
48:54There's all smiles from Nakatani.
48:56He's gone the distance. He's been highly competitive in what was an intriguing contest
49:03from start to finish.
49:05There was high-octane drama in the last three or four rounds with Nakatani's pressure,
49:11the eye damage, and Inoue changing it up again late on.
49:16But that, Barry, is what makes an exceptional fighter.
49:21Yeah, it is. You know, I mean, it was two different fights, weren't it?
49:25The first half was over cagey, unfortunately, because of the power they both possess
49:29and the skill set they both have.
49:31And neither one wanted to take that risk of trying to win the fight in their own big.
49:34I thought Inoue was nicking those rounds, because he was the one being more assertive,
49:38more aggressive.
49:40The second half, I think Nakatani changed the pattern.
49:43After the good advice from the corner, and he pushed the pace, he made it,
49:47and he grabbed a few rounds back there, but I think down the stretch there,
49:52Nakatani did what champions do, and I think he sealed it in his favour.
49:55Huge respect between the pair. Great to see them smiling.
49:59I think they know. I think Inoue has definitely done enough here.
50:03Whatever the scores are, maybe one will be wide or a couple close.
50:07We don't know how the three judges will have it.
50:09I think it'll be two or three to Inoue.
50:11I think he's definitely won, and he defends his WBA, Super IBF, WBO,
50:19ring magazine titles.
50:21He will be 33-0 surely.
50:24Junto Nakatani very, very much played his part
50:29in what wasn't always thrilling.
50:31It was cagey, but it did get livelier, and it was a really good matchup of elite warriors.
50:46As we wait for Michael Buffer to make it official.
50:49After 12 rounds of World Championship Boxing, we go to the judges' scorecards.
50:55Patrick Morley has it 116 to 112.
50:59By four.
51:00Raul Caiz Senior has it 115 to 113.
51:04By two.
51:05Juan Carlos Palayo scores it 116 to 112.
51:10All three judges have it for the winner by unanimous decision,
51:16and he is still the unified super bantamweight champion of the world,
51:24Nahoya, the monster, Inoue!
51:32Marvellous!
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