The Japanese Boxing Commission and the Sportswriters Club held their annual awards ceremony at the Tokyo Dome Hotel.

The showpiece award, the 2024 Japanese Fighter of the Year, went to pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue, who won the award for a seventh consecutive year, eighth in total.

Perhaps most interestingly, Inoue was joined on stage by current WBC bantamweight titlist Junto Nakatani and Inoue asked Nakatani to face him next year at the Tokyo Dome, in what would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.

Inoue got off the canvas for the first time in his career to stop Luis Nery in six rounds to retain his Ring/ Undisputed junior featherweight titles in May. “The Monster” went on to retain his title by stopping TJ Doheny (TKO 7).

Inoue vs. Luis Nery was awarded Fight of the Year honors.

Meanwhile, Nakatani picked up the Technique award he won last year. The 27-year-old won the WBC bantamweight title by stopping Alexandro Santiago (TKO 6) in February, then stopping Vincent Astrolabio (KO 1) in July and then Petch CP Freshmart (TKO 6) in October. Nakatani also picked up the Knockout of The Year.

The Special Achievement award was given to Seiya Tsutsumi, who upset Takuma Inoue (UD 12) to annex the WBA bantamweight title.

Effort and Fighting Spirit award was presented to fast rising Tenshin Nasukawa.

Bantamweight prospect Riku Masuda, who notched three victories, notably claiming the Japanese bantamweight title in 2024, won The Rookie award.

WBO junior bantamweight beltholder Mizuki Hiruta again won female Fighter of the Year for the third consecutive year.