Boxing
Inoue 'irreplaceable experience' fuels Nakatani in four-weight dream
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Junto Nakatani has vowed to use the "irreplaceable experience" of his loss to Naoya Inoue as fuel for his four-weight dream.
The previously undefeated pound-for-pound star was edged by his countryman in a Tokyo Dome classic for the ages last month.
Having switched divisions in pursuit of Inoue's undisputed super-bantamweight crown, Nakatani came up short on the scorecards.
But as quoted by Yahoo Japan, 'Big Bang' has revealed that he enjoyed the bout, and still aims to become a four-division kingpin.
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"It was really fun, an irreplaceable experience for my career and life," Nakatani reflected. "It would be a waste not to use this as fuel.
"There were a lot of moments where we both wanted to land punches. Fighting Inoue allowed me to grasp how well I can perform.
"I want to show everyone I can become a world champion at junior featherweight. I think Inoue would make adjustments [in a rematch].
"I won't know [how things are different] until we fight again, but I would like to do it. If there is demand, a second round is definitely possible."
Could Nakatani engineer second dance?
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
Junto Nakatani did more than just lose against Naoya Inoue - he did so in a way that his own reputation remained enhanced in defeat.
Few fighters walk away from 'The Monster' with credit in the bank, and 'Big Bang' has every reason to think he could earn a rematch.
But a second dance is unlikely unless the star ends up in the path of Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez first and upsets the American talent.
The latter has been earmarked for a super-bout with Inoue, but is likely to need a test at super-bantamweight before any encounter.
Nakatani is a name that has been bandied about. If he takes the fight, and stops his foe, then a second Inoue dance could be on the cards.
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