The WBC is adding a $100,000 ring to Saturday’s Inoue-Nakatani fight, but it barely registers next to what both fighters are already being paid for the main event.
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) meets three-division titleholder Junto Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) in a fight that already carries full title across The Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO. The extra prize is a custom ring commissioned by the WBC, valued in six figures and loaded with 626 stones, including 573 diamonds totaling around 11 carats.
The piece is part of the WBC’s Crown Series in partnership with Jason of Beverly Hills, the same jeweler used for championship rings in major U.S. sports. A similar ring was handed to Terence Crawford after his win over Canelo Alvarez in September.
Jason Arasheben, CEO of the company, tied the design directly to Japan.
“Crafted in rose gold, the ring reflects Japan’s sakura season, a symbol of beauty and the fleeting nature of peak moments,” Arasheben said to Ring Magazine. “In Japanese tradition, cherry blossoms embody mono no aware, the understanding that greatness exists in a moment that cannot be held, only experienced.
“A cherry blossom tree is engraved along the side panel, rising from two boxing gloves at its base. The detail connects the fighter’s journey to a deeper cultural philosophy where discipline, honor, and timing define legacy.”
The ring also includes a removable top revealing a miniature boxing ring inside, continuing the Crown Series design approach.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman framed the piece as part of the sanctioning body’s effort to elevate major fights.
“This is what the highest level of boxing looks like,” Sulaiman said. “Two undefeated champions, on one of the most iconic stages in the world, competing for legacy.”
Inoue-Nakatani takes place Saturday at the Tokyo Dome and streams on DAZN.
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Last Updated on 2026/04/30 at 11:45 AM
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