Bob Arum Raises the Stocks of Naoya Inoue’s Upcoming Fight With One-Word Promotion

In a country that birthed the samurai, anime legends, and sushi, Japan is now gearing up to witness a clash of titans that could go down in sporting folklore. When two undefeated warriors and pound-for-pound best—Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani—prepare to lock horns, the fight world doesn’t just pay attention, it collectively gasps. Boxing promoter and Top Rank founder Bob Arum, who’s been around since Muhammad Ali floated like a butterfly, just added rocket fuel to the hype machine of a fight with one quote that has all of Japan—and the boxing world—buzzing.

The undefeated “Monster” from Kanagawa, Naoya Inoue, has been steamrolling through weight classes with surgical precision. The undisputed super bantamweight champion has already conquered four weight divisions. So, the 32-year-old doesn’t have much left to prove. But right on his heels is the rising Japanese star Junto Nakatani. At 27, Nakatani is already a three-division world champion and is seen as the next credible threat to his terrifying compatriot, Naoya Inoue. With his natural size, timing, and rangy style, many are whispering—could the WBC bantamweight champion be the guy to do the unthinkable?

To find that out, a fight between the two is being worked out for later in the year in Japan, possibly at the Tokyo Dome. Speaking to the matter, Naoya Inoue’s promoter Bob Arum confidently stated: “A lot of people say that Nakatani is the guy that could beat Inoue, that’s why it’s such a big fight. That’s a real, real fight… It’ll be the biggest fight ever in the history of Japan.”

With just one word—“biggest”—Arum didn’t just describe the bout, he branded it. That single word supercharged the stakes, framing the matchup as a monumental moment in Japanese boxing history. This wasn’t just any passing comment. Coming from the 93-year-old boxing magnate, who’s promoted the likes of Pacquiao, Mayweather, De La Hoya, and Tyson Fury, this was a heavyweight stamp of significance.

What Arum recognizes is more than just an exciting matchup; it’s the perfect storm of skill, timing, and storyline. The Monster, with his icy precision and pitbull aggression, is Japan’s reigning king. But Nakatani—with his calm, cerebral style and slightly taller frame—is being touted as the chess player who could finally put the king in check. If this turns into a war of styles, boxing fans are in for a historic masterclass.

“He’s a bigger star than Pacquiao”: Bob Arum on Naoya Inoue’s potential

Bob Arum has promoted legends. From Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard to Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao, the 93-year-old Top Rank chief has been a front-row witness to greatness for over half a century. So, when FightHype.com sat him down to talk about Naoya Inoue, what followed wasn’t casual praise.

“I think he’s a bigger star than Pacquiao because Pacquiao was more normal as a fighter,” Arum began, setting the tone for what would become one of his most striking comparisons to date. “Pacquiao struggled with opponents—with Morales, with Marquez. He was a great fighter, Pacquiao. But again, he didn’t have the same body of work that Inoue has.”

Arum pointed out how the Japanese phenom doesn’t just defeat his rivals—he dismantles them. “Look over Inoue’s career—how he’s been able to knock out his opponents one fight after another. Fights that looked like they were close on paper… and he not only wins—he doesn’t win a decision—he knocks out the opponent.”

That ruthless consistency is what separates the good from the mythical. For Arum, Inoue has crossed that threshold. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen such a consistent knockout fighter,” he said. “I mean, Marvin Hagler had tremendous power, Tommy [Hearns] had power—but it’s nothing like Inoue, where one fight after another, he is able to dispatch his opponent… and win convincingly by knockout.

And if you’re wondering what it might take to solidify Naoya Inoue’s pound-for-pound supremacy, Arum made it clear that—at least in his eyes—the throne is already occupied. “Well, I make him now number one pound-for-pound,” Arum declared.

Now, finally, coming to the hot topic: “Obviously down the road, he has Nakatani—another Japanese fighter who a lot of people think, because of his power, is the equal if not better than Inoue.” So he had a neutral take on it from the very beginning, which is super interesting to witness. He also teased another looming collision: “At 126 pounds, this Mexican kid, the champion Rafael Espinoza… I mean, he’s twice the size of Inoue. That’s going to be a real interesting fight.”

In boxing, the word “special” gets tossed around often, but coming from Bob Arum, it hits differently. And right now, he’s putting all his chips on Naoya Inoue, not just as Japan’s pride, but as boxing’s most unstoppable force.