In his most up-to-date battle, Junto Nakatani (proper) outpointed the robust Argi Cortes, who suffered three knockdowns however lasted the 12 spherical distance. (Photograph by Naoki Fukuda)
Former two-division titleholder Junto Nakatani will step as much as bantamweight to problem Alejandro Santiago for the WBC title on the Kokugikan Enviornment in Tokyo, Japan, on February 24, 2024.
On the identical card, WBA bantamweight titlist Takuma Inoue will put his belt on the road for the primary time towards former IBF junior bantamweight beltholder Jerwin Ancajas. The 2 had been scheduled to battle on November 15, however the battle was postponed in October after Inoue suffered a damaged rib.
Additionally, Kosei Tanaka will get the possibility to grow to be a four-weight titleholder when he faces Christian Bacasegua for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight championship.
Santiago (28-3-5, 14 knockouts), The Ring’s No. 3-rated bantamweight, has overcome a few early setbacks to ascertain himself as a stable skilled. The 27-year-old Mexican is already a 10-year veteran. In his first world title try he gave Ancajas, then the IBF 115-pound titlist, all he might deal with in a 12-round draw.
Santiago misplaced an in depth battle to Gary Antonio Russell (SD 10) in late 2021 and rebounded with three wins to earn a shot on the vacant WBC title towards the legendary Nonito Donaire. He confirmed a superb chin early to come back on late and claimed a 12-round unanimous decision to elevate the title.
Nakatani (26-0, 19 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3-rated junior bantamweight, ran by way of his early opposition and holds wins over former junior flyweight titleholder Masamichi Yabuki (UD 4) and flyweight contender Seigo Yuri Akui (TKO 6), and he handed the litmus check of former 108-pound titleholder Milan Melindo (TKO 6). COVID stymied the tall 25-year-old’s progress, and he needed to wait 13 months to win the vacant WBO title towards Giemel Magramo (TKO 8) in November 2020. He made two defenses, together with his American debut, when he stopped former titleholder Angel Acosta (TKO 4). On the undercard of Gennadiy Golovkin-Ryota Murata, he was equally spectacular in bludgeoning Ryota Yamauchi (TKO 8).
The heavy-handed boxer-puncher moved as much as 115 kilos and beat robust Mexican Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (UD 10) earlier than capturing the vacant WBO title with a Knockout of the 12 months candidate against Andrew Moloney (KO 11), then broadly dominated Argi Cortes (UD 12) in his first protection.
Inoue (18-1, 4 knockouts), rated at No. 8 by The Ring at bantamweight, is gifted in his personal proper however is usually present in his older brother Naoya’s shadow. Takuma received the OPBF 115-pound title in simply his fifth battle and made two defenses earlier than stepping as much as bantamweight in 2017. He misplaced his unbeaten report in a WBC title shot towards Nordine Oubaali (UD 12) in late 2019.
In his comeback battle, Inoue beat Keita Kurihara (TD 9) to select up the OPBF 118-pound belt. He then moved as much as 122 kilos and beat skilled former world title challenger Shingo Wake (UD 12) and added the nationwide title by beating grizzled veteran Gukuya Furuhashi (UD 12). Final day out, the 27-year-old outpointed Liborio Solis (UD 12) to annex the vacant WBA title.
Ancajas (34-3-2, 23 KOs) received the IBF title from McJoe Arroyo (UD 12) in September 2016. He made 9 profitable defenses, posting wins over Teiru Kinoshita (TKO 7), Jamie Conlan (TKO 6) and Israel Gonzalez (TKO 10).
Ancajas is a highway warrior and has competed in Macau, Australia, Eire, the U.S. and Mexico. The 31-year-old southpaw misplaced his title to Fernando Martinez (UD 12) in February 2022 after which misplaced the rematch to the Argentine fighter (UD 12). Nonetheless, he then acquired again to successful methods with an eight-round confidence-builder over the summer season.
In 2015, Tanaka (19-1, 11 KOs), The Ring’s No. 5-rated junior bantamweight, received the WBO strawweight title from Julian Yedras (UD 12) in his fifth battle and made one protection. He then moved as much as junior flyweight, received the vacant WBO title and made two defenses. The Japanese star outgrew that division and edged Sho Kimura (MD 12) to win the WBO flyweight title in 2018. He made three defenses of that one, notably outboxing former unified junior flyweight titleholder Ryoichi Taguchi (UD 12) and stopping present WBO 108-pound titlist Jonathan Gonzalez (TKO 7).
The 28-year-old jumped to 115 kilos however was brutally stopped by Kazuto Ioka (TKO 8) on New 12 months’s Eve in 2020. The three-weight world champion has regained his confidence with 4 wins.
Bacasegua (22-4-2, 9 KOs) turned skilled in 2015 weighing 130 kilos. The Mexicali native overcame just a few setbacks whereas progressively slimming all the way down to bantamweight, together with being stopped by journeyman Julio Abel Robles (TKO 4). He suffered additional defeats towards Leonardo Baez (SD 10) and all the way in which down at flyweight to skilled former two-time world title challenger Moises Calleros (MD 10).
Nonetheless, the 26-year-old has settled in at 115 kilos and received his final 9 fights, all in Mexico, to earn his title shot.
