“This is what’s planned for now,” Moretti told Ring Magazine. “That’s what’s on tap next.”
Inoue’s win came without much resistance, while Nakatani’s 12-round decision over Sebastian Hernandez Reyes drew mixed reaction, with some viewing the fight as closer than the scorecards showed. The judges’ margins ranged from narrow to wide, which contributed to the discussion afterward.
Despite the different performances, Moretti said the results did not change interest in the fight.
Moretti noted that both fighters were competing outside Japan, which he said can affect how bouts play out. Fighters, he added, can look different when they are away from home compared to headlining major events in their own country.
He said Inoue’s fight followed a familiar pattern, with the champion in control once he took the lead. Nakatani’s fight, by contrast, required more work and went the full 12 rounds.
“I think, despite what Nakatani looked like, it’s a very competitive fight,” Moretti said. “In front of a sold-out Tokyo Dome, he’s going to have to raise his level, and I think Inoue gets up for it.”
The matchup has been viewed primarily as a major domestic event in Japan, where both fighters have established followings and where a Tokyo Dome setting carries added significance. Promoters have framed the bout as a home-market showcase rather than one built around international pay-per-view demand.
Moretti said the recent results have not altered internal plans or expectations.
“It’s not like nobody wants to see the fight because of the fight Nakatani had,” he said. “It’s intriguing as hell, still.”
No official date has been announced, but the plan remains for Inoue and Nakatani to fight next.
