Junto Nakatani Targets Ryosuke Nishida Unification Fight Next
The goal of Junto “Big Bang” Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) is to become a unified champion at 118. He will get that chance in his next fight against countryman and IBF bantamweight title holder Ryosuke Nishida (10-0, 2 KOs).
GETTING WHAT HE WANTS
Nakatani is coming off yet another impressive performance as he defended the WBC bantamweight title with a third-round knockout over David Cuellar on February 24 in Tokyo, Japan. It was all Nakatani from the opening bell as he used his boxing skills to pepper him from a distance, and devilish body punches to hurt and ultimately finish him off.
During the post-fight interview, Nakatani was joined in the ring by Nishida. When asked about his future, the WBC champion said the following:
“I actually said, ‘who’s next’ in the previous match but this time, Nishida, let’s fight . . . I would like to unify my title at bantamweight, and I have a big dream moving on forward.”
In response, the IBF champion said he was ready and looking forward to fighting Nakatani. Nishida captured the IBF strap in May 2024 with a unanimous decision victory over two-time IBF champion Emmanuel Rodriguez. In his first title defense, Nishida scored a seventh-round knockout over Anuchai Donsua in December 2024.
SIZING THEM UP
Nakatani has emerged as an elite fighter and has been steamrolling the competition. With his freakish height for a lower-weight fighter, he often overwhelms opponents with his reach, boxing ability, and two-fisted power. His handlers believe that the 27-year-old can follow in the footsteps of countryman Naoya Inoue and become a crossover, mainstream attraction.
Nishida represents Nakatani’s toughest competition at 118. Skilled, just as tall as Nakatani and a fellow southpaw, his wins over Rodriguez and Donsua suggest that the 28-year-old is a harder puncher than his record indicates. Nishida is a particularly impressive body puncher.
This unification clash is a big fight in their home country of Japan. The winner could make a definitive case that they are the best in the division. The early expectation is for them to face off this summer.
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