Robert Garcia picks Inoue over Nakatani by decision

Robert Garcia expects Naoya Inoue to edge Junto Nakatani on the scorecards when the pair meet May 24 at Tokyo Dome, but the veteran trainer believes the Japanese star faces his stiffest test yet.

Garcia, who trains Oscar Duarte and manages Jesse Rodriguez, told The Ring he sees Inoue winning a decision in what should be a demanding night's work. "I believe this will be the hardest and toughest fight of Inoue's career," Garcia said. "If he dominates and takes care of business comfortably, then he's the real man."

Why Nakatani's style poses problems for Inoue

Garcia pointed to Nakatani's size, power, and willingness to trade as factors that could trouble the unified junior featherweight champion. The unbeaten challenger dropped Sebastian Hernandez twice in December and owns the kind of frame that makes him awkward at 122 pounds. Garcia noted that Inoue has been dropped twice in his career and said Nakatani needs to force exchanges rather than box cautiously. "He hits tremendously hard, and he needs to make it a rough fight to win," Garcia said.

The prediction carries weight because Garcia's charge Rodriguez is angling for a shot at either man. Rodriguez defends his junior bantamweight titles against Antonio Vargas on June 13 in Glendale and has floated both names as dream matchups should he move up or Nakatani drop back down.

Garcia will watch the fight from a hotel room in the early morning hours while working Duarte's corner against Angel Fierro the night before. The Tokyo Dome showdown streams live on DAZN with ring walks expected around 5 a.m. Eastern.

Source: ringmagazine.com