An all-Japanese world title unification clash tops a bill at the Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo this Sunday, as WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani takes on IBF titlist Ryosuke Nishida in a battle of unbeatens.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank promote Nakatani vs Nishida, with the card available on ESPN+ in the USA.
Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) could well be on a collision course with fellow wrecking ball Naoya Inoue, and a devastating win here will go a long way to securing that contest.
‘Big Bang’ had previously reigned as WBO champion at both flyweight and super flyweight, and since moving up to bantamweight at the start of 2024, he hasn’t been the distance since, picking up the WBC title in February of last year with a sixth-round stoppage of Alexandro Santiago in Japan.
The 27-year-old would defend twice more in 2024, wiping out Vincent Astrolabio inside a round before stopping Tasana Salapat in six to round out the year.
2025 started with another emphatic win for Nakatani, as David Contreras was knocked out in three in February.
Now comes the test of Nishida (10-0, 2 KOs), who is the unbeaten in 10 professional fights.
The Osaka native won his world title in only his ninth fight, outscoring the established Emmanuel Rodriguez last May, and the 28-year-old defended in December, knocking out Anuchai Donsua in seven.
Prediction: Nakatani impresses with each win, and he can grind down the less experienced Nishida after the halfway mark to move closer to a superfight with Inoue, potentially this year.
Tsuboi tackles Tran
Talented amateur starlet, Tomoya Tsuboi (1-0, 1 KOs) goes for a title in just his second fight, and he should be able to take the vacant WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title by winning on the scorecards against the more experienced professional Van Thao Tran (18-1, 10 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
In 10-round contests, Tenshin Nasukawa (6-0, 2 KOs) gets a decent test against Victor Santillan (14-1, 5 KOs) at bantamweight, and it’s one he should come through on points.
In another bout at bantamweight, Riku Masuda (7-1, 7 KOs) can win early in his meeting with Michell Banquez (23-5, 15 KOs).
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In four rounders, two debutants go head-to-head at super flyweight, and Riku Mayashita can take the win on points against Toya Oshima.
In a minimumweight bout, Rukia Okubo (1-1-1, 1 KO) can outscore Takumi Yoneya (0-1).
