Not only did Japanese powerhouse Naoya Inoue retain his undisputed junior featherweight championship by defeating compatriot Junto Nakatani in May, but he was also anointed the finest pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
That distinction is celebrated on the cover of our July 2026 issue. Managing editor Tom Gray was in Tokyo for Inoue’s career-best triumph and chronicles an incredible fight week. Meanwhile, regular contributor Daisuke Sugiura sat down with 2025’s Ring Trainer of the Year, Shingo Inoue, to discuss the superfight and much more. Our July issue is On Digital now and will be available on newsstands next month. TOKYO DRIFT By Tom Gray: Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani was every bit the superfight that it promised to be THE ART OF RAISING CHAMPIONS By Daisuke Sugiura: Shingo Inoue has shown exceptional skills in both training and parenting in shaping Japan's most celebrated boxing family BETTER LATE THAN NEVER By Ernesto Amador: The red-tape nightmare kept Rafael Espinoza out of the mainstream for years, but a spectacular upset launched him straight to the top A GROWING LEGACY By Joseph Santoliquito: David Benavidez successfully kicked in the door at cruiserweight, and the ultra-confident three-division titleholder says he could go even higher FAMILY FEUD By Corey Erdman: Claressa Shields and Mikaela Mayer describe each other as sisters, but a brewing superfight is turning them into fierce rivals THE OLYMPIC GOLD STANDARD By Michael Rosenthal: The epic medal haul of the U.S. Boxing Team at the 1976 Montreal Games still marks the peak of America's amateur program THE 21-YEAR PUNCH By Don Stradley: The stunning left hook that won Jersey Joe Walcott the heavyweight championship is a timeless reminder to never give up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2z1bJ8AAp0&t=45s
