Junto Nakatani suffers orbital fracture after Inoue defeat
Kyodo News
Junto Nakatani suffered a left orbital fracture in his loss to Naoya Inoue and will focus on recovery. The injury occurred during the May 3 super bantamweight title fight. Inoue retained his unified belts with a commanding win.
Junto Nakatani, the Japanese boxing star, suffered a fractured left eye socket and will dedicate time to recovery after his loss to unified super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, a source close to the fighter said Sunday (May 3, 2026).
The injury occurred during a dramatic super bantamweight bout where Inoue defeated Nakatani to successfully defend his unified titles. The fight took place on May 3, 2026, according to Kyodo News.
After the match, Nakatani was diagnosed with a fractured left eye socket, a serious injury requiring an extended recovery period. The source said the fighter will focus entirely on treatment and rest, setting no plans for competition in the near future.
The Inoue-Nakatani fight was one of the most anticipated boxing events of 2026. Inoue, nicknamed 'The Monster,' further cemented his elite status with a convincing victory over his compatriot, retaining his super bantamweight throne.
There is no word yet on Nakatani's specific recovery timeline, but medical experts estimate that an orbital fracture may take several months to fully heal.
