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Levi Luna reported during ESPN KnockOut’s broadcast on Saturday night that WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue and mandatory challenger Tenshin Nasukawa are expected to meet in a rematch this September in Japan.
The reported bout would take place less than a year after Takuma handed Nasukawa the first defeat of his professional boxing career. Their first meeting last November saw Nasukawa enjoy success during the opening rounds before Takuma adjusted and took control of the fight, earning a clear decision victory.
Both fighters have remained active since then and enter the proposed rematch on the heels of significant wins. Takuma, 22-2 (5 KOs), retained his WBC bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over former four-division champion Kazuto Ioka earlier this year. Nasukawa, 8-1 (2 KOs), recorded the biggest victory of his boxing career by defeating former unified super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada.
Nasukawa’s status as the WBC’s mandatory challenger has kept him in line for another opportunity at the title, despite the decisive nature of the first encounter. The prospect of an immediate rematch may divide opinion among fans who believed Takuma had settled the rivalry in their initial meeting.
If finalized, the contest would match two of Japan’s most recognizable names in the lower weight classes. Takuma would be pursuing another successful defense of his WBC title, while Nasukawa would attempt to avenge the lone defeat on his professional boxing record.
No official announcement has been made, but if Luna’s report proves accurate, Takuma and Nasukawa will renew their rivalry in what could become one of Japan’s most anticipated boxing events of the fall.
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Last Updated on 2026/06/15 at 12:49 PM
