Junto Nakatani will put his perfect record on the line against fellow undefeated champion Ryosuke Nishida in a highly anticipated bantamweight title unification bout on June 8 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo.
"I always wanted a unification fight and knew that once I could defeat Cuellar, I could pursue it. That win made it easier for me," said Nakatani, expressing his excitement for the opportunity.
Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) currently holds the WBC bantamweight title which he won in 2024. The power-punching champion has already defended his belt three times and now looks to add Nishida's IBF strap to his collection.
His opponent, Nishida, brings his own undefeated record (10-0) to the ring, though with considerably less professional experience. The 28-year-old IBF champion has just two knockout victories on his resume, creating an interesting style contrast for this showdown.
Interestingly, a victory for Nakatani could potentially set up a future clash with Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue, though "Big Bang" insists his focus remains squarely on the task at hand.
"I'm very grateful and motivated by this unification. This opportunity is in front of me now, and it's up to me to make the most of it," Nakatani added.
The undercard features several compelling matchups. Tenshin Nasukawa (6-0), a former kickboxing champion best known to casual fans for his 2018 exhibition bout with Floyd Mayweather, will face Victor Santillan (14-1). Nasukawa is coming off an impressive victory over former world champion Jason Moloney in February.
Tomoya Tsuboi (1-0), a 2021 World Championships gold medalist, takes on Vietnam's Van Thao Tran (18-1), while knockout artist Riku Masuda (7-1) squares off against the experienced Michell Banquez (23-5) in another bantamweight contest.
The event will stream live on ESPN+ with the main card starting at 4:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 8. Will Nakatani continue his dominance, or can Nishida pull off the upset against his more experienced countryman? This all-Japanese title unification promises to deliver high-level boxing for hardcore fans willing to wake up early.
