Crawford Picks Between Inoue And Nakatani

Terence Crawford weighed in on the May 2 clash between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani, labeling the bout a “50/50” toss-up.

The fight marks the seventh defense of Inoue’s undisputed 122-lb crown. Inoue faces a fellow Japanese superstar in his prime—a man who has moved up through three weight classes to challenge for a fourth divisional title. Crawford confirmed he will be ringside in Tokyo to watch the two. Crawford noted that while Inoue is the established champion, Nakatani’s height, reach, and deceptive power make this the most dangerous outing of “The Monster’s” career. “It’s 50/50.”

With Crawford currently in retirement state following his 2025 win over Canelo Alvarez, and Oleksandr Usyk facing criticism for his upcoming “cross-over” bout against kickboxer Rico Verhoeven, the winner of Inoue-Nakatani is widely expected to claim the World #1 Pound-for-Pound spot in The Ring rankings. Inoue is the heavy betting favorite, as Nakatani’s recent 122-lb debut—a controversial win over Sebastian Hernandez—has some questioning if the younger challenger is fully acclimated to the weight.