Junto Nakatani: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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Junto Nakatani is officially a top super bantamweight contender. Three months after vacating the WBC, IBF and The Ring bantamweight titles, Nakatani successfully made his 122-pound debut with a unanimous decision win over Sebastian Hernandez.

Boxing News / NY Fights / December 27

Ring V Results Set up Inoue vs Nakatani Showdown

The Ring V results yielded one upset and one near upset, a little holiday spice for the last major boxing card of 2025. There was no banana-peel slip preventing the anticipated Japanese superfight of 2026 between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani.

Boxing News / Dice City Sports / December 27

Junto Nakatani Shows Grit In Victory

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In his long-awaited junior featherweight debut, Junto Nakatani didn’t quite deliver the explosive statement suggested by his “Big Bang” nickname but he did enough to remain unbeaten.

Boxing News / ESPN / December 27

Inoue, Nakatani win to set up 2026 megafight

Japanese boxing stars Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani won their respective fights Saturday, setting up a 2026 showdown between two of the world's best pound-for-pound fighters.

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / December 27

Nakatani Survives A Scare To Beat Reyes

Junto Nakatani defeated Sebastian Hernandez Reyes in a unanimous decision, 115-113, 115-113 and 118-110, in his super-bantamweight debut, as you can see how the fight played out live. The bout served as the co-main event on the Naoya Inoue vs.

Boxing News / KO on SI / December 26

Naoya Inoue Focused On Picasso In Riyadh Showdown As Nakatani Bout Looms

Naoya Inoue admits he doesn’t think much about his ring moniker — now or ever as he prepares for his fight against Alan Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs). He doesn’t even have a favorite fictional monster.

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / December 23

Junto Nakatani praises fighter and welcomes showdown – and it’s not Naoya Inoue

On December 27, at the Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh, Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) will make his debut at super bantamweight, facing Sebastian Hernandez (20-0, 18 KOs), in the co-main event to Naoya Inoue vs Alan David Picasso.

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / December 22

Nakatani vs Inoue – Junto Nakatani sets the record straight regarding superfight

Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani will both appear on the December 27 The Ring V: Night of the Samurai fight card. Now both competing in the super bantamweight division, a superfight between the two appears closer than ever.

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / December 4

Naoya Inoue Vs. Junto Nakatani Targeted For 2026

An all-Japanese clash between undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue and three-weight champion Junto Nakatani is being targeted for the Tokyo Dome in May 2026.

Boxing News / KO on SI / November 17

Mizuki Hiruta Makes Inoue vs Nakatani Pick Ahead of Title Defense

Mizuki Hiruta is set to defend her WBO and Ring Magazine super flyweight titles on November 22 against Gloria Gallardo. The Japanese star is one of the most active champions in boxing right now.

Boxing News / Athlon Sports / September 22

How the Kickboxing GOAT Rebounded From Floyd Mayweather Loss to Rise in Boxing

When Junto Nakatani announced he would vacate his bantamweight titles to move up in weight and face Naoya Inoue next year, it left a sudden power vacuum in one of Japan’s most stacked boxing divisions.

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / September 20

‘Night of the Samurai’ – Inoue, Nakatani, Teraji Lead Historic Japan vs World Card

Fresh from his dominating win over MJ Akhmadaliev, Naoya Inoue’s next fight has been made official, with the “Monster” defending his undisputed super bantamweight crown against Alan David Picasso in the main event Ring V: Night of the Samurai on December 27, live on DAZN.

Boxing News / NY Fights / August 27

The Ring Launches ‘The Underdog’ Prospect Series

Boxing fans now know more about the prospect series long discussed as a new initiative of The Ring under its Saudi General Entertainment Authority ownership.

Boxing News / Athlon Sports / August 6

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani, Japan’s Biggest Boxing Showdown Set for 2026

Japanese boxing sensation Naoya "The Monster" Inoue is undoubtedly the most popular active boxer out of Asia, becoming a global sensation by conquering four weight classes and currently reigning over super bantamweight (122 lbs).

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / July 19

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez vs Junto Nakatani – Eddie Hearn Clarifies

Jesse Rodriguez continues to dazzle in the super flyweight division, following his dominance at flyweight. He returns to action on July 19 vs Phumelela Cafu, in a WBO/WBC unification bout.

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Boxing News / Athlon Sports / June 9

Junto Nakatani Makes History in Tokyo, Unifies Bantamweight Division with Victory Over Ryosuke Nishida

In the fight, which took place on June 8, 2025, at Ariake Coliseum, Nakatani made a lasting impression by defeating the IBF champion in the sixth round.

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / June 9

What’s Next For Junto Nakatani?

Junto Nakatani knocked out Ryosuke Nishida in the sixth round to become the WBC and IBF Bantamweight Champion as we look at his next steps. The win extended Nakatani’s undefeated record to 31-0, with 24 knockouts to his name.

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / June 8

Junto Nakatani vs Ryosuke Nishida – Live Results from the Ariake Coliseum

Live from the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Junto Nakatani vs Ryosuke Nishida headlines a Top Rank promotions card in association with Teiken promotions. These two undefeated fighters collide in a WBC/IBF bantamweight unification bout.

Boxing News / Fights Around The World / June 4

Junto Nakatani vs. Ryosuke Nishida: Preview, Betting Odds & Fight Card

Boxing returns to the land of the rising sun early Monday morning here in the States on ESPN+ as a unified bantamweight title fight headlines a card from the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan.

Boxing News / Athlon Sports / May 23

Lash Of The Future: Junto Nakatani Vs. Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez Looms As Super Flyweight Superfight

With the boxing world giddy with anticipation, Japanese boxing sensation Junto Nakatani is open to a possible battle with up-and-coming American prodigy Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez.

Boxing News / KO on SI / May 20

Junto Nakatani Says He Needs To Knock Out Naoya Inoue To Win Potential Super Fight

Right now, boxing fans are impatiently waiting for 2026 to come around so they can potentially witness Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani, and both boxers are adding fuel to the flame.

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / February 24

Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuéllar Ends in Dominant Stoppage

Junto Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) kept his bantamweight crown with a dominant third round knockout of David Cuéllar (28-1, 18 KOs). The official time of stoppage was 3:00.

Boxing News / Fights Around The World / February 17

Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar: Preview, Betting Odds & Fight Card

On Monday, February 24, Top Rank returns to the land of the rising sun as they host a WBC world bantamweight title fight from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

Boxing News / Big Fight Weekend / October 10, 2024

Junto Nakatani vs. Tasana Salapat: Preview, odds and fight card

Unbeaten knockout artist Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) will defend his WBC bantamweight title against Tasana Salapat (76-1, 53 KOs) at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on October 14, in the headline event of the second of two action-packed cards.

Boxing News / Total Apex Sports / September 25, 2024

Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani: A Fight on the Horizon?

Japan may be on the brink of witnessing the biggest fight ever to hit the boxing ring in Japan. Some rumors that four-division champion Naoya Inoue ‘Monster’, one of the best pound-for-pound boxers, will meet Junto Nakatani, another three-division winner.