Carrington lines up WBC title fight if Inoue moves up after May 2 bout with Junto Nakatani
Naoya Inoue could move to 126 pounds after his May 2 fight with Junto Nakatani, with WBC champion Bruce Carrington lining up a title fight.
Inoue has already collected titles at light-flyweight and super-flyweight, then unified all four belts at bantamweight and super-bantamweight. He has defended the undisputed 122lb championship six times since taking it from Marlon Tapales in 2023.
Before any change in division, Inoue meets Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome on May 2 in what stands as the biggest all-Japanese fight staged at the elite level, with both men putting unbeaten records on the line.
The outcome is expected to shape the next step. A move to featherweight has been widely discussed, with interest building around how far Inoue can carry his form across divisions.
Carrington, who holds the WBC belt at 126lbs, has made his position clear as that scenario develops. Speaking to Fight Hub TV, the New Yorker backed the matchup and his chances.
“I feel like, stylistically, that [a fight between me and Inoue] would be a match made in heaven. A lot of people would tune in to that fight, there is excitement with me putting on knockouts and him putting on knockouts.
“He is a well decorated fighter and is on the pound-for-pound [list]. I feel like it is just really well written and during the time that we have been talking about this [fight], it has marinated well enough.
“If he decides to move up to 126lbs, I will be right there. I will be the first guy to beat him.”
A short view on the matchup: Inoue’s timing and punch selection carry up, but at featherweight he will need to hold his ground when the exchanges open up against a bigger man.
The May 2 fight remains the immediate task. If Inoue clears Nakatani, the door at 126lbs is already open with a titleholder waiting.
