The showpiece award, the 2025 Japanese Fighter of the Year, went to pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue, who won the award for an eighth consecutive year, ninth in total.

Last year, Inoue was joined on the stage by three-division world champion Junto Nakatani and the two agreed to face each other.

Fast forward a year and Inoue reminded us of that conversation.

"We made a promise for a big match," Inoue said. "We said, 'Let's both win and make it exciting again in one year.'

"That promise - we both managed to fulfil it. This May, at the Tokyo Dome, I will clash with Junto Nakatani with everything I got. Everyone, please be sure to witness our full courage and determination on that day."

Inoue notched four successful defenses of The Ring and undisputed junior featherweight titles in 2025. The 32-year-old stopped late sub Je Joon Kim (KO 4), got off the canvas to roar back and stop Ramon Cardenas (TKO 8) on his return to American shores. He followed that by dominating former unified 122-pound titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev (UD 12) in September before closing out the year in Riyadh against David Picasso (UD 12) on December 27.

Elsewhere, Kenshiro Teraji's 12th round stoppage of Seigo Yuri Akui for the WBA and WBC flyweight titles won Fight of The Year.

The Boxer and Skill award was shared between Nakatani and WBC bantamweight titleholder Takuma Inoue.

IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki's 12th round knockout over Felix Alvarado was the Knockout of The Year.

WBA bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi was awarded the Outstanding performance award.

Effort and Fighting Spirit award was presented to world-rated junior bantamweight contender Tomoya Tsuboi.

Kyosuke Takami, who held the WBA 108-pound title briefly last year, won The Rookie award.

WBO junior bantamweight beltholder Mizuki Hiruta again won female Fighter of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.

The female Fight of The Year took place between Yuko Kuroki and Nanako Suzuki on June 26.