Takuma Inoue will make the second defense of his WBC bantamweight title against Tenshin Nasukawa in a rematch on September 27 at Toyota Arena Tokyo. The 12-round main event will headline Prime Video Boxing 16 and stream live exclusively on Prime Video in Japan.
Takuma Inoue vs Tenshin Nasukawa 2 Confirmed
Inoue, 30, beat Nasukawa by unanimous decision when they met for the vacant WBC belt at the same venue on November 24, 2025. The judges scored it 117-111 and 116-112 twice after Inoue recovered from Nasukawa’s quick early start and took control with pressure, timing and work at close range.
Nasukawa, former kickboxing world champion, had success in the opening rounds with movement, feints and his left hand, while Inoue was credited with a slip in the second round rather than a knockdown. The fight was level on all three scorecards after four rounds under the WBC’s open-scoring format, but Inoue’s jab, right hand and improved positioning shifted the contest through the middle and late rounds.
The rematch follows a clear route through the WBC rankings. Nasukawa earned mandatory-challenger status by beating former two-weight world champion Juan Francisco Estrada in April, while Inoue completed his first defense by turning back Kazuto Ioka in May. The WBC then ordered Inoue to face its No. 1 contender.
Inoue enters as a two-time world champion after previous title success at WBA bantamweight. His first bout with Nasukawa was a key response after a 13-month layoff and a period in which he considered retirement, delivering a composed performance in front of a home crowd at Tokyo’s new arena.
For Nasukawa, the September fight is a second chance to claim a first boxing world title. The former kickboxing standout began his pro boxing run with seven straight wins before Inoue handed him his first defeat in the sport. Since then, the win over Estrada placed him back at the front of the WBC queue.
Prime Video will build toward the card with a two-part behind-the-scenes series. Episode one, available from August 5, covers the July 23 announcement and promotional work, while episode two is scheduled for September 1 and focuses on Nasukawa’s combat-sports career. Prime Video will also make 14 past bouts involving the two fighters available to watch free in Japan from August 5 through fight day.
The rematch gives Inoue a chance to strengthen his hold on the 118-pound title, while Nasukawa returns with a mandatory position, recent momentum and direct experience of the champion’s approach.
