Naoya Inoue Wins Japan’s Boxer Of The Year

Naoya Inoue won Japan’s Boxer of the Year for the ninth time overall and his eighth consecutive year.

The announcement came during the annual awards ceremony hosted by the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and the Tokyo Writers Club on February 17. Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champ, was honored for his impressive 2025 campaign in which he successfully defended his titles four times, capped off by a win against Alan David Picasso in Riyadh this past December. Taking the stage to accept his trophy, Inoue addressed a potential fight against Nakatani.

“We were both able to fulfill our promises. In May this year, at Tokyo Dome, I’ll clash head-on with Junto Nakatani. Everyone, please make sure to witness that courageous showdown,” Inoue

“In 2025, I was able to see new scenery with a unification bout at bantamweight and a move up to super bantamweight, so I’m truly happy to receive this Skill Award. In 2026, I will do my best to show everyone a more developed, stronger Junto Nakatani! I will become a world champion in super bantamweight,” Nakatani

Other Awards

Technique Award: Takuma Inoue (Naoya’s younger brother) and Junto Nakatani (who is expected to fight Naoya in May).

Best Win: Seiya Tsutsumi, the WBA bantamweight champion.

Effort Award: Tomoya Tsuboi, the former regional champion.

Knockout Award: Masamichi Yabuki, the IBF flyweight champion.

Best Rookie: Kyosuke Takami, a former junior champion.

Female Boxer of the Year: Mizuki Hiruta.

Fight of the Year: The title unification match between Kenshiro Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui.

Trainer of the Year: Shingo Inoue (father of Naoya and Takuma).