ESPN

May 6, 2026, 07:48 AM ET

Naoya Inoue makes his debut at No. 1 in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings following an emphatic victory over Junto Nakatani on May 2. Inoue was previously ranked second and Nakatani No. 6. Fighting in front of more than 55,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome, Inoue delivered a performance that reinforced his standing as the best fighter in the world.

What looked on paper like a very close fight for the undisputed junior featherweight championship ultimately turned into a showcase for Inoue's precision and control. While the official scorecards (116-112, 116-112 and 115-113) suggested a competitive fight, the action told a different story. Inoue established command early in the all-Japanese clash, sweeping the first four rounds on all three cards and dictating the pace throughout.…