{"id":641174,"date":"2026-04-30T19:23:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T19:23:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/641174\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T19:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T19:23:09","slug":"nonito-donaires-thoughts-and-prediction-on-inoue-nakatani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/641174\/","title":{"rendered":"Nonito Donaire’s thoughts and prediction on Inoue-Nakatani\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nonito Donaire\u2019s thoughts and prediction on Inoue-Nakatani\u00a0<\/p>\n

By Anson Wainwright<\/p>\n

Former four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire is excited at the prospect of this weekend\u2019s all-Japanese between undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue and three-division world champion Junto Nakatani.<\/p>\n

The 43-year-old has decided if he\u2019ll be in Tokyo, Japan, for the superfight or will watch on TV, either way, he\u2019s expecting a fun fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s an excellent fight \u2013 a must-see fight,\u201d\u00a0said Donaire. \u201cI believe that fight is very entertaining. Both guys can hit, both guys are dangerous and the dynamic of their styles make this fight very entertaining.\u201d<\/p>\n

Donaire, who twice shared the ring with Inoue in losing efforts in 2019 and 2022, believes Inoue has to do what he does best.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he needs to go out there and do what he does, be very aggressive, use his speed, his quickness and his ability to time his opponent well,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that\u2019s his biggest component and cut the distance as quick as he usually does, along with his power, he will be very devastating.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he feels Nakatani has to use his three-inch height and one inch reach advantage as well as his southpaw style.<\/p>\n

\u201cJunto needs to neutralize his distance and his long range,\u201d he explained. \u201cI believe his neutralizes the jab and out of the range of Inoue. I think he\u2019ll make the fight very difficult for Inoue. If he can do that it will be the key component to neutralizing Inoue\u2019s ability.<\/p>\n

\u201cInoue isn\u2019t too familiar with southpaws, especially southpaw\u2019s who aren\u2019t afraid of him. Inoue has been taking control is because a lot of these guys are afraid of his power, the guys he\u2019s fought have shown weakness with timidness, they\u2019re gun-shy because they\u2019re afraid to get make moves because they might get hit by something but I think Nakatani is one of those guys that\u2019s going to go for broke, he\u2019s not afraid to get hit, to take chances, not afraid to make moves and aside from that he\u2019s southpaw.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two fighters appear to have been on a collision path for the past couple\u00a0of years leading to his moment and Donaire says this is the biggest challenge for both fighters so far in their respective careers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is for Japan\u2019s No. 1 fighter,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe the best Inoue will come out and I believe the best Junto Nakatani will come out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Donaire can see a path to victory for both men but when pushed slightly leans toward one man.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people will favor Inoue because he has the experience and weight,\u201d he said. \u201cNakatani is coming up in weight, but I have to give the tall southpaw and not fearing Inoue. The one who establishes their style first will win the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would go with Inoue. I believe it has to be a knockout because both guys are going to go for it. Nakatani needs to press the fight to have that distance. There is a huge difference in height, Nakatani does get hit because he fights in mid-range, a little step back utilizing that distance. We know Inoue is devastating when he comes down to executing his punches and able to land them.\u201d<\/p>\n

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