“This fight will 100 percent be a war, and I think I will win by a decision after I overcome everything Inoue throws my way,” Nakatani told The Ring after one of his last stateside training sessions at the LA Boxing Gym. “I’m thrilled that this undisputed junior featherweight title fight will take place in my country, in front of 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome.

“It’s an incredible opportunity, and I would enjoy it even more by beating Inoue. I will show my lifetime of hard work and prove everything that night. The fans will leave happy and emotional.”

While some fighters may change things up before the biggest bout of their careers, including tweaking training programs and limiting access to outsiders, especially after a difficult fight, it’s been business as usual for Nakatani as he prepares for Inoue with career-long coach Rudy Hernandez.

“We’re having a great training camp without any issues,” Nakatani said. “The motivation is high, and I have been able to train without any injuries. Everything has been going well.”

Everything didn’t go so well for Nakatani last time out, as he outlasted Sebastian Hernandez in a tougher-than-anticipated shootout in his 122-pound debut December 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The back-and-forth brawl, which Nakatani won by unanimous decision, featured nearly 600 combined punches landed – 297 from Nakatani and 273 from Hernandez.

That fight served as the co-main event for “The Ring V: Night of the Samurai” show headlined by Inoue’s win against Alan Picasso. Their victories set up the battle between Japanese juggernauts, which DAZN will stream worldwide.

“Sebastian Hernandez was a very tough guy, and a very strong opponent,” Nakatani said. “That’s why he was able to land a lot, and it was a great experience for me. It was important for my growth as a fighter, and I am ready to show a new version of myself on fight night. That is why I am preparing harder to be even more ready for an even tougher opponent in Inoue.”

Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) is preparing for Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) by employing some of the same sparring partners Hernandez used to give Nakatani hell. But as much as Israel Ramirez and Alexis Silva are trying to mimic Nakatani’s style, they can only do so much to mirror The Ring's No. 7-ranked pound-for-pound fighter.

The 28-year-old Nakatani, a three-division champion from Kanagawa, is banking on breaking down the four-division champion Inoue, rated No. 2 pound-for-pound by The Ring, by physically making the fight harder than Inoue has ever experienced.

“I feel that my size and youth should be a big advantage,” Nakatani said. “It gives me an even better chance to win.”

Nakatani will sport advantages across height (three inches), reach (one inch) and age (five years). The strong southpaw is also expected to do damage with his left hand, much like Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas did by dropping Inoue with counter lefts in the early rounds of their fights, only to see “The Monster” get mad and violently stop them soon after.

“I’m not only working on my overhand left but several other punches as well,” Nakatani said. “One of Inoue’s strongest assets is his ability to adjust in the moment. Inoue is able to land on his opponents quickly by using his speed. It’s important to move and not be a stationary target. I’ve been practicing on my adjustments and movements. This is the key to winning.”

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.