Junto Nakatani showcased an impressive display of skill and power in defending his WBC bantamweight title against Vincent Astrolabio in Tokyo. The fight ended in the first round after Nakatani delivered a devastating cross to Astrolabio’s body, forcing him to the canvas and unable to continue.
Nakatani’s victory has sparked discussions about potential future fights, with the WBA bantamweight titlist, Takuma Inoue, being a possible opponent on his hitlist. Nakatani also mentioned the prospect of unifying titles in the bantamweight division or moving up weight classes to face challenges in higher divisions, hinting at a possible showdown with Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue.
On the undercard, Anthony Olascuaga claimed the WBO flyweight world title with a spectacular knockout of Riku Kano in the third round. Olascuaga’s gym-mate, Nakatani, celebrated his own victory while Tenshin Nasukawa, a kickboxing star turned professional boxer, secured a third-round TKO win against Jonathan Rodriguez.
In addition to these impressive victories, Japanese middleweight Issei Aramoto made a memorable pro debut with a sixth-round knockout of Mongontsooj Nandinerdene. These fights showcased the depth of talent and excitement in the world of professional boxing, especially in Japan.
Nakatani’s dominant performance and the success of other fighters on the undercard highlight the bright future of boxing in Japan. The possibility of future matchups between Nakatani and other titlists has generated buzz and anticipation among fans, setting the stage for more thrilling fights in the bantamweight and other divisions.