Boxing: ‘Monster’ Inoue interested in fighting Nakatani

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese boxer Naoya “Monster” Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight world champion, expressed interest Monday in fighting WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani in the future.

“A young man wants to be at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, so I have to wait for his move up in weight,” Inoue said in Tokyo, referring to the U.S.-trained Nakatani.

Ring magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings are meant to determine the very best fighter regardless of weight class.

Nakatani successfully defended his WBC belt with a sixth-round technical knockout of Thailand’s Petch Sor Chitpattana on Oct. 14 in Tokyo, improving his record to 29-0 with 22 of them by KO.

“I’m getting interested as he looks strong,” Inoue said.

Inoue, 31, who has risen to the top of the list, is currently ranked second behind Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, while Nakatani, 26, is ninth.

Inoue, who is 28-0 with 25 knockouts, plans to have his next bout in December.