Inoue vs Nakatani Latest Odds, Expert Prediction & Pick

• Naoya Inoue defends his undisputed junior featherweight title on Saturday versus Junto Nakatani
• This bout is considered the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history
• Check out the Inoue vs Nakatani latest odds, plus my expert prediction and pick

A fight of epic proportions goes down early Saturday morning, as Naoya Inoue defends his junior featherweight title versus pound-for-pound superstar Junto Nakatani. Both men boast identical 32-0 records, with Nakatani looking to become only the second four-division champion ever out of Japan.

To do so, Nakatani will have to overcome a heavy underdog status. Inoue is currently listed as a -400 favorite, with his opponent coming back as a +300 underdog. Inoue is also +110 to knockout his countryman and +175 to win by decision. That ladder line has my attention, and will be the bet I’m targeting in this clash of champions.

This junior featherweight tilt will take place at 8 am ET, 5 am PT inside the Tokyo Dome, in Tokyo, Japan, with Dazn providing streaming coverage.

Keep reading for the latest Inoue vs Nakatani odds, plus my expert prediction and pick.

Naoya Inoue vs Junto Nakatani Latest Odds

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If you want to tail my Inoue by decision bet make sure you visit Bet365. The sportsbooks is currently offering the wager at +175 odds, which is by far the best price in market.

If Nakatani is going to pull off the upset he’ll likely have to knock out his opponent because he’s not going to out-box him. The underdog is +650 to win by KO/TKO or DQ, and while Inoue has never been finished, he has been knocked down twice in recent fights.

Inoue vs Nakatani Expert Prediction and Pick

• Inoue by Decision (+175 at Bet365)

Saturday’s fight will go down as the biggest boxing match in Japanese history. Inoue is considered one of the best to ever lace up the gloves at his size, and no one will argue that he’s not the superior boxer. He’ll enter the ring with a career 84% knockout rate, but the size of Nakatani and Inoue’s recent change in strategy suggests a KO isn’t likely.

Tale of the Tape

Nakatani stands 3 inches taller than Inoue, with a massive frame for the junior featherweight division. Inoue’s power is most devastating when he can bully smaller opponents or catch them coming in, but Nakatani has an extremely durable chin, having only been dropped once in his career. His ability to use his length to his advantage by peppering his jab will likely force Inoue into a chess match rather than a brawl, making a knockout tough to score.

As for Inoue’s last two outings against David Picasso and Ramon Cardenas, he’s shown a greater willingness to box conservatively and win rounds. In bouts against larger opponents, Inoue’s punches haven’t devastated his foes like they did earlier in his career. Versus a talent like Nakatani, I expect Inoue to prioritize defensive responsibility and strategy.

Another reason to doubt a knockout, is the fact that Nakatani’s footwork is elite, and he won’t crumble under the early pressure like some of Inoue’s previous opponents. The longer the fight goes, the less likely Nakatani is to be knocked out.

By focusing on scoring points with combinations and body blows that can neutralize Nakatani’s size advantage, Inoue can score a win on the judge’s cards. He can avoid taking the kinds of risks required to finish his bigger, stronger, opponent, and can rely instead on his superior boxing skills and tactical awareness.