Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue For Vacant Bantamweight Title Official
Sep 25, 2025
2 min read
Takuma Inoue will end a 13-month layoff in November and look to inflict a first professional defeat on the record of kickboxing standout Tenshin Nasukawa, as the aftereffects from Junto Nakatani's impending junior featherweight move have already starte...
Time waits for no-one.
Barely days removed from Junto Nakatani officially relinquishing his unified bantamweight titles, the WBC already have a vacant world title fight on tap for Nov. 24.
Fast-rising contender Tenshin Nasukawa (7-0, 2 KOs) and former beltholder Takuma Inoue (20-2, 5 KOs) have agreed terms to headline a Teiken Promotions show in two months' time at the newly-opened Toyota Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The bout was confirmed during a press conference held Thursday (local time) in the country's capital city, to be aired on Prime Video Japan. No undercard information was revealed.
Three-division champion Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) will make his Saudi Arabia business trip a week of firsts in December, being matched tough for an intriguing junior featherweight debut as part of a Riyadh Season show headlined by Naoya Inoue-David Picasso.
The 27-year-old southpaw has long maintained his desire to face Inoue in an all-Japanese affair while both are still in their prime - though both have to pass difficult tests in the Saudi capital on Christmas week.
He's set to face a third consecutive unbeaten opponent in Mexico's Sebastian Hernandez Reyes while Inoue faces another physically bigger foe in Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs).
Teiken Gym representative Tsuyoshi Hamada declared it would be a 'world-class battle at the very highest level' in a provided statement to the media.
Prime Video Japan's head of content Yosuke Ishibashi teased 'other exciting matchups' on the card, to be announced at a later date.
Inoue will end a 13-month layoff when he returns in another world title contest, having lost the WBA strap on points to Seiya Tsutsumi after two successful defences.
He was one of three options for WBA titleholder Antonio Vargas' first championship defence in July before turning it down with lingering injuries that wouldn't heal in time.
BoxingScene reported the 29-year-old considered exploring the IBF route before settling on the famous green and gold belt.
Former kickboxing champion Nasukawa has made good on his promise for an expedited path in the paid ranks, just two-and-a-half years after making his debut on the Kenshiro Teraji-Anthony Olascuaga undercard.
A trio of impressive 10-round decision wins over Gerwin Asilo, former WBO champion Jason Moloney and Victor Santillan over an eight-month stretch have earned him a title shot.
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Jai Opetaia Defends Ring, IBF Cruiserweight Titles vs. Huseyin Cinkara On Dec. 6
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