Junto Nakatani takes on Vincent Astrolabio in an thrilling world title defence, dwell on Sky Sports activities, on Saturday morning. We ask the important thing questions forward of the struggle and bantamweight contender Charlie Edwards offers his skilled view.
Who’s Junto Nakatani?
Junto Nakatani, from Kanagawa in Japan, is the WBC bantamweight world champion.
He’s already a three-weight world titlist with a flawless 27-0 file. He has received 20 of these fights inside the space. He’s nonetheless simply 26 years previous however has already made devastating knockouts one of many hallmarks of his work.
He first received the WBO flyweight title in 2020, halting Giemel Magramo in eight rounds.
Final yr he beat Andrew Moloney to win the WBO super-flyweight title, securing that victory with a monstrous power-punch end, which went down as among the finest knockouts of 2023.
In February he inflicted a crushing defeat on Alexandro Santiago, wiping him out in six rounds to win this WBC title.
Charlie Edwards, a rising bantamweight contender, has been taking a eager skilled curiosity in Nakatani as a possible future opponents. He instructed Sky Sports activities: “I consider he is one of the best within the division at bantamweight proper now.
“Nakatani’s a great fighter. His resume speaks for itself. He’s won titles at multiple weights. He’s a real handful for most fighters.”
And, he added: “Everyone loves a knockout artist.”
Who’s Nakatani combating?
Vincent Astrolabio from the Philippines would be the first man to problem him for the WBC bantamweight belt.
Astrolabio is a former world title challenger, who took on Jason Moloney, Andrew’s brother, for the WBO’s bantamweight championship final yr, solely dropping on a majority choice.
His notable wins embody beating Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2022. Fourteen of Astrolabio’s 19 victories have come inside the space and, whereas he is had 4 defeats, he is solely been stopped as soon as and that was in 2018 at an early stage in his profession.
Edwards stated: “In the world of boxing there’s always problems that can arise and Nakatani might take a few rounds to work him out. I’ve watched him. He beat Rigondeaux so he obviously can fight and box at a high level but I do feel like he got Rigondeaux at the right time.
“I consider that when Nakatani finds his rhythm and his vary, Astrolabio will make errors. Nakatani may be very exact and he units traps and I feel he’ll stroll him into one, perhaps get him out of there.
“He’s very tough and game… But I feel like he’ll make the mistakes and he’ll pay.”
When can I watch them?
The Nakatani vs Astrolabio world title struggle takes place on the Kokugikan Enviornment, Tokyo’s historic sumo wrestling enviornment.
The present begins at 10am UK time on Saturday (July 20), and may be watched dwell at 10am on Sky Sports activities Motion.
The invoice options two different world title fights, Kosei Tanaka vs Jonathan Rodriguez for the WBO super-flyweight championship and Riku Kano towards Anthony Olascuaga for the WBO flyweight crown.
The principle occasion ringwalks aren’t anticipated to happen till after 12pm on Saturday.
How good is Nakatani?
There are actually 4 rival champions, all of them from Japan and Nakatani could possibly be one of the best of all. He has the WBC belt at 118lbs, Yoshiki Takei has the WBO, Ryosuke Nishida the IBF and Takuma Inoue the WBA.
He’s already being touted because the inheritor to the good Naoya Inoue and naturally holds one of many titles that the “Monster” used to own.
Edwards stated: “He’s tall, he’s got long arms, he’s rangy and he’s a southpaw. He’s seems to know how to gauge his distance and put his shots together at the most important time, when someone’s over-reaching, and he’s got the power to punch into the gap and knock someone clean out.
“He is undoubtedly the No 1 within the division proper now,” he continued. “I’ve observed for a couple of of his fights when individuals come out they usually assume they are going to have the ability to stand there with him somewhat bit extra they usually tuck up they usually attempt to stroll him down – once they get caught you see them change. You see their mindset change they usually hastily begin doubting themselves.
“It proves that he’s got knockout power.
“I do consider that he is the ‘Monster’ of the division.”
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Watch ringside footage as Naoya Inoue produced an explosive stoppage of Stephen Fulton to turn out to be a four-division world champion. Credit score: High Rank
What makes him so harmful?
His brutal knockout wins over Santiago and Moloney particularly spotlight his credentials as probably one of the best bantamweight on the planet in the present day.
Despite the fact that he fights in one of many lighter weight lessons performances like which have earned him a fame one of many sport’s pre-eminent knockout artists.
Edwards stated: “He brings people on to his punches, which makes the impact and the power double what it would be if they were moving away.
“Fighters like Nakatani and Inoue, they’re so technically sound,” he explained. “You possibly can see of their coaching they’re working drills and drills over and over.
“When it comes to fight, it’s never about how much muscle you have, sometimes it’s about how you set your feet, how you rotate your hips into it. It’s like the basics of boxing. They study, study and keep perfecting things, and that’s what brings the power.
“You may be probably the most muscly man within the room but when your footwork’s far and wide and you are not turning your hips in and taking the time and precision and selecting them pictures in the suitable moments, punching into the gaps and never attempting to hurry it and knock anyone out, then they are going to by no means come.
“It really comes down to technique, timing and precision. That’s why I think he’s a real problem.”
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Naoya Inoue has devastating energy in each palms and as soon as he will get you damage there isn’t any means again!
Might he struggle Inoue?
The comparisons between Nakatani and Inoue are comprehensible. They’ve each risen via a number of divisions to win world championships at totally different weights. Nakatani at present holds one of many “Monster’s” previous titles and is only one weight class beneath him.
Not solely that, however Nakatani is perhaps much more efficient at super-bantamweight, the place Inoue is now the undisputed world champion.
He has the attain and vary to maneuver up too. Edwards expects him to do exactly that.
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Naoya Inoue recovered from being floored for the primary time, to win a wild 4 knockdown warfare towards Luis Nery
“I believe that he’ll go up through the weights as well because he’s got the height and he seems to be carrying the power every weight class he’s stepping up. So probably because of his height and his reach and his awkwardness he will be able to go through more of the weight divisions,” Edwards stated.
“As he puts on more size and more muscle mass he will be punching harder at the weight above and won’t be struggling.
“While you’re dropping weight and it is getting tight, the very first thing you lose is the ability and the explosiveness.
“At some stage in his career, he’s going to face the Inoue fight. Imagine them two going at it. A mega-fight.”
Watch Junto Nakatani vs Vincent Astrolabio dwell on Sky Sports activities Motion from 10am on Saturday July 20
