Junto Nakatani shot dead body which shot Vincent Astrolabio. Photo by Naoki Fukuda
Junto Nakatani has been turning heads among hardcore boxing aficionados since he campaigned at flyweight, but bantamweight appears to be the best weight class for the 26-year-old three-division world champion.
Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) made the first defense of his WBC 118-pound title a quick exit with a shot at the test. Vicente Astrolabio with a body shot in the opening round of their main event at the Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo on July 20.
The bout aired live on ESPN+ early in the morning in the US The southpaw puncher is a stranger on stage due to the close relationship between his Japanese promoter and Top Rank, which announced an official promotional deal with Nakatani earlier. this week.
The US's oldest promotional company and sports network giant recognize special talent when they see it. And Nakatani, who has trained in Southern California with veteran coach Rudy Hernandez since he was a kid, is a talent who can build fans in his home country of Japan and the US.
Nakatani's impressive win over Angel Acosta (who defends his WBO flyweight title in September 2021) and Andrew Moloney (2023 KO of the WBO 115-pound belt) took place in the US and was televised on ESPN.
Nakatani broke Moloney with bad shots. Photo by Naoki Fukuda
His last three fights – defending the WBO 115-pound title against Argi Cortes, KO winner of the WBC bantamweight belt. Alexandro Santiagoand Astrolabio's first round blitz – all broadcast on “The Plus” from Japan.
Moving forward, American fans can expect to see Nakatani fight in America at least once a year. Wherever he fights, he will be presented as one of the best fighters, pound for pound, in the sport.
As a home-level vision to appear on the Korakuen Hall circuit in Tokyo, Nakatani collected the heads of two future world title holders – Masamichi Yabuki (currently The Ring's No. 6-rated junior flyweight) and Seigo Yuri Akui (current WBA flyweight title holder and The Ring's No. 2 contender).
He scored back-to-back goals against Filipino veterans Milan Melindo and Giemel Magmo – both rated Ring at the time – in 2019 and 2020. The victory over Magramo earned Nakatani his first world title, the vacant WBO 112-pound belt, and he defeated six Ring-rated fighters in his next seven bouts. Astrolabio (19-5, 14 KOs) entered their fight as The Ring's No. 7-rated bantamweight.
“Nakatani beat his WBC mandatory opponent (Astrolabio) in the opening round,” it said. Anson Wainwright. “Nakatani threw the other bantamweights down and nodded Naoya Inoue. I can't wait anymore.
“Go away Nakatani outranks Errol Spence in the pound-for-pound rankings.”
The Ring Standards Panel unanimously agreed with Wainwright's proposal.
Nakatani needed only one to Astrolabio's stomach to defend his 118-pound title. Photo by Naoki Fukuda
REVIEW OF RING MEASUREMENTS (as of 20 July):
POUND-FOR-POUND – Nakatani moves on to Number 9.
WELTERWEIGHT – Alexis Rocha lives at No. 9 after knocking out 10-round undefeated Santiago Dominguez.
BANTAMWEIGHT – Nakatani remains at No. 1. Astrolabio comes out. Seiya Tsutsumi (11-0-2, 8 KOs) enters at No. 10.
Wainwright suggested the former flyweight belt holder Daigo Higa, who has been campaigning at 118 pounds since 2020, to enter at number 10.
Jake Donovan suggested Tsutsumi.
Added Wasim Mather: “I don't have a problem with Higa going in at number 10 at bantamweight, but recently he has faced Thai opponents who, when ranked in the world, have moved up – like Sirichai Thaiyen and Nawaphon (lost by Astrolabio). He's fighting for the WBO bantamweight title in September, so bringing him in at number 10 looks good to me. However, is there anyone else we can consider?”
“I played with Tsutsumi,” he said Wainwright. “He and Higa fought to a draw (10 rounds) (in October 2020). I know what Wasim is saying about the Thais going overboard but Higa took out Nawaphon for four, and Astrolabio went for 11 and it wasn't without controversy. So I thought that was a good balancing act. “
Added Daisuke Sugiura: “Tsutsumi or Higa is difficult. Higa is still a bigger name but I'm also good with Tsutsumi, who beat two top Japanese fighters in (Kazuki) Anaguchi and (Riku) Masuda last year.”
Your favorite Senior Editor agreed to Donovan's proposal.
JUNIOR BANTAMWEIGHT – Jonathan Rodriguez he drops out of the rankings after failing to make the weight of his shooting game Kosei Tanaka by over six pounds (thereby ending the war and leaving him out of work for over a year). KJ Cataraja (17-0, 13 KOs) enters at No. 10.
“There is no obvious candidate,” he admitted Wainwright, “so I will propose Argi Cortes. He appeared briefly but he is sitting with (Juan Francisco) Estrada and Nakatani.”
Donovan suggested Cataraja (co-signed Yours Truly).
“I love KJ Cataraja,” he said. “There is no firm choice in the top 10 but I'm not a person who likes to list lads in competitive losses without winning points.
FLYWEIGHT – Anthony Olascuaga enters at number 8 after blasting Riku Kano in three rounds for the vacant WBO belt.
Anthony Olascuaga earned a KO of the Year candidate against Riku Kano. Photo by Naoki Fukuda
Wainwright suggested No. 10. Adam Abramowitz he suggested No. 9. Donovan suggested as number 7.
JUNIOR FLYWEIGHT – Carlos Canizales He remains at No. 5 following a 12-round majority decision over Ivan Balderas.
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