5 months ago
Nasukawa vs Inoue: Mayweather’s kickboxer closes in on WBC belt after humiliation
Reported first by Chava Rodriguez of ESPN, talks are on for a mouthwatering all-Japan clash between Tenshin Nasukawa and Takuma Inoue for the vacant WBC bantamweight title.
Junto Nakatani left the belt as he has moved up in weight and headlines at the end of the year on the same card as Naoya Inoue. Provided both win in December, Nakatani will face “The Monster” for the undisputed super bantamweight championship in 2026, leaving the 118-pound division wide open for a fresh storyline.
And what a storyline it is.
From Mayweather humiliation to the world stage
The name Tenshin Nasukawa still rings with most fans because of that infamous night in 2018. At just 20, an over-aged but still far more experienced Mayweather dismantled the Japanese kickboxer on New Year’s Eve in Saitama. Dropped three times and stopped inside one round, Nasukawa looked like a boy thrown to the lions.
But fast forward six years, and the “Mayweather kickboxer” has turned into a serious professional boxer under Top Rank. Nasukawa is now 7-0 with a victory over former world champion Jason Moloney. The win, on Junto Nakatani’s undercard in Tokyo, proved he’s not a gimmick — he’s a live threat.
WBN previously reported that “only Mayweather has defeated the young hungry lion in over 50 bouts” as Nasukawa continues his transformation from kickboxing phenom to potential world champion.
¡Nasukawa vs Inoue por el vacante WBC!
En negociaciones @TeppenTenshin y @takumainoue_122 para disputar el campeonato vacante de peso Gallo del @WBCBoxing. Noviembre es el objetivo. pic.twitter.com/NyD9aaaFHm
— Salvador Rodriguez (@ChavaESPN) September 19, 2025
Takuma Inoue in the opposite corner
Standing in his way is Takuma Inoue, the younger brother of pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue. A former WBA bantamweight titleholder, Takuma sits high in the WBC rankings and represents an elite test for anyone in the division.
Negotiations are reportedly underway for the bout to take place in November, potentially as a main event in Japan. The symbolism is clear: if Takuma wins, the Inoue brothers reign over the bantamweight and super bantamweight classes simultaneously. If Nasukawa wins, the man Mayweather embarrassed on a global stage will rise to WBC champion inside seven pro fights.
The 118-pound picture
The timing couldn’t be more dramatic. Nakatani, who unified the division, sits high in the pound-for-pound ratings. Naoya Inoue aims to defend his undisputed crown in 2026. That leaves the bantamweight strap as the perfect launchpad for Nasukawa or Takuma to secure legacy.
For Nasukawa, it’s a chance to erase the memory of RIZIN 14 and prove that his boxing career is more than a novelty. For Takuma, it’s a chance to bring another WBC title into the Inoue household.
Either way, the WBC’s decision to pit these two together is a masterstroke.
Nasukawa, once dismissed as “the kid Mayweather knocked out,” is now in the frame for a world championship, just twelve months after stepping up to the next level.
Takuma Inoue is no easy mark, but this fight has Japan vs. Japan fireworks written all over it — and the winner is one victory away from boxing’s ultimate stage alongside Naoya Inoue in 2026.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
Nasukawa vs Inoue: Mayweather’s kickboxer closes in on WBC belt after humiliation
Full Story: https://www.worldbox #NasukawaInoue
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