They engaged in a high-level chess match for the first third of the fight, before Nakatani kicked the fight into second gear to make it an enthralling encounter as he challenged the undisputed junior featherweight king.

“I am very proud of Junto’s performance,” Hernandez told The Ring. “After putting thought into it, I believe that I probably failed Junto by holding him back in the first few rounds of the fight. It was my doing to have him start the way that he did.

“During the fight, I know that Junto listens to me and will do what’s asked of him, and he doesn’t question it. The reason [our initial plan] went longer than it should have was that I knew Inoue has very good IQ, speed and power — he’s the entire package. My whole thing was to try and stay one step behind so that we can catch him once Inoue got close using his speed. But during the fight, it turned out that Junto was just as fast as Inoue.

“It wasn't about fighting. It was about trying to be in control and working on timing to catch Inoue. That was the plan. We didn't want to lose any rounds. We made it a fight, but we started too late. You live and learn.”

Nakatani lost the first four rounds on the scorecards and eventually dropped the decision by scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112.

Nakatani (32-1, 27 KOs) had tremendous success from Rounds 5-10 before getting his left orbital bone broken in the 11th from an uppercut.

“Every round was very competitive and probably could have gone either way,” Hernandez said. “Once Junto got going, you saw the momentum he built, and he was looking really solid. That was part of the plan as well.

“The headbutt in the 10th that caused a cut near his left eyebrow didn’t factor in the result of the fight, but the uppercut that broke Junto’s orbital bone early on in the 11th did change the outcome of the fight. You saw that Junto was hurt and went straight into defensive mode, but he didn’t tell me until after the fight that he had hurt his eye. Until the eye injury, Junto was on a roll, everything was working and his confidence was growing. He was taking it to Inoue.”

Hernandez said their strategy would be different in a much-desired sequel and lead to more favorable results.

“There's no secret to it — the rematch would be Round 13, and we wouldn’t be in a feeling-out process and showing the same respect that we had for this fight,” he said. “We know that we are extremely competitive now, that we can beat him — now more than ever. I have a lot of respect for Inoue. I consider him to be the best fighter in the world. Congratulations to him for winning the decision. The right guy won, but there is a but …

“It would be honorable if Inoue gave us a rematch. It would be no different than how he gave Nonito Donaire a rematch. Junto is worthy of a rematch.”

Immediately after the fight, conversation quickly shifted to a potential fight between Inoue and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, The Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO 115-pound champion who’s getting ready to make his 118-pound debut against Antonio Vargas on June 13.

Hernandez said that if Rodriguez wants to get his feet wet at 122 pounds, he should fight Nakatani first to earn the right to fight Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs). He added that Rodriguez wouldn’t reach a fight against Inoue because Nakatani would blast him inside eight rounds, doubling down on a similar statement he made last year.

“I believe that by Inoue giving us the rematch, he'd make more money, and it'd be a bigger event in Japan than with him fighting Rodriguez,” said Hernandez. “I hope it happens. I also believe that the rematch is more feasible — let’s do it in December, and let the better man win.” Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan