Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani: Start time, date and where to watch Japanese super fight

Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani are set to collide in the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.

‘The Monster’ Inoue will put his undisputed super bantamweight crown on the line for the seventh consecutive time against the young and hungry Nakatani.

Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank

Both pugilists won their respective bouts on the Ring Magazine: Night of the Samurai bill on Boxing Day to set up the super fight.

Inoue outclassed Mexico’s David Picasso over the distance, while Nakatani was pushed all the way to the final bell by the extremely tough Sebastian Hernandez Reyes in ‘Big Bang’s’ first fight at 122lbs.

This contest represents one of the rare occurrences where two pound-for-pound top 10-ranked fighters face each other at the peak of their powers.

Inoue (32-0) is a four-weight world champion and one of only two male two-weight undisputed champions in the four-belt era.

Nakatani (32-0) is a three-weight world champion, having picked up world titles at flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight.

Inoue vs Nakatani: Date and how to follow

The super fight will take place at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, May 2, with the prelims set to get underway at 8am UK time (3am ET / 12am PT).

Inoue and Nakatani are then expected to make their ring walks at around 1pm UK time (8am ET / 5am PT).

DAZN will be broadcasting the fight, while talkSPORT will stay across the fight via talkSPORT.com and on air.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

Listen via the talkSPORT app, or on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Inoue vs Nakatani: undercard

• Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani – Undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight titles
• Takuma Inoue vs. Kazuto Ioka – WBC bantamweight title
• Toshiki Shimomachi vs. Reiya Abe – Featherweight
• Sora Tanaka vs. Jin Sasaki – Welterweight
• Kosuke Tomioka vs. Shogo Tanaka – Flyweight
• Deok No Yun vs. Yuito Moriwaki – Super middleweight
• Yoshiki Takei vs. Dekang Wang – Super bantamweight

Inoue vs Nakatani: What has been said?

Inoue said: “May 2 will be a historic day for boxing.

“But in terms of my boxing career, I have to think of it as just a point on the way.

“I will prepare for the fight with that mindset.

“I have to raise the level of every aspect of my boxing, otherwise I can’t bring out the best version of myself.

“First of all, I have to make sure this is the best fight I’ve ever had.”

Boxing schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s  boxing schedule.

Nakatani added: “My body has grown, and I feel like I’m getting more adjusted, so from here I want to discuss tactics and the game plan with my team.

“I want to hone things and get fully ready.

“He’s the best fighter, so I need to be at my best when I fight him.”