Thrilling Showdown Ahead
This Sunday, boxing enthusiasts are in for a thrilling showdown as bantamweight contenders Junto Nakatani and Ryosuke Nishida prepare to face off in a highly anticipated main event at the Ariake Arena, Tokyo, aired live on Top Rank Boxing via ESPN. Both fighters will compete for two prestigious world title belts, making the stakes incredibly high in their quest for supremacy in the bantamweight division.
Junto Nakatani’s Rise
Junto Nakatani, boasting an impressive record of 30 wins—23 of which came by knockout—has quickly established himself as one of the top fighters in his weight class. Following a successful campaign in the super bantamweight division, Nakatani recently clinched the WBC bantamweight title after triumphing over Alexandro Santiago by knockout in February 2024. Since then, he has maintained his momentum, celebrating three victories, including a notable knockout of the previously undefeated David Cuellar just last month.
Ryosuke Nishida’s Challenge
In contrast, his opponent Ryosuke Nishida, who stands at 10-0 with 2 knockouts to his name, currently holds the IBF bantamweight championship. Aiming to unify the titles, Nishida dethroned Emmanuel Rodriguez in May 2024 through a decisive unanimous decision. He successfully defended his title later in December by scoring a seventh-round TKO over Anuchai Donsua, showcasing his formidable skills inside the ring.
Exciting Fight Card
The fight card for this event also features several other exciting matchups. Former kickboxing star Tenshin Nasukawa (6-0, 2 KOs) will step into the ring against Victor Santillan (14-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-round bantamweight bout. Additionally, Tomoya Tsuboi (1-0, 1 KO) is set to clash with Van Thao Tran (18-1, 10 KOs) for the WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title. Another exciting matchup will see Riku Masuda (7-1, 7 KOs) take on Michell Banquez (23-5, 15 KOs) over 10 rounds.
How to Watch
Fans eager to catch the action can tune in to the main card starting at 4 a.m. ET on ESPN+ and Disney+, where all the excitement of Top Rank Boxing can be accessed through their dedicated streaming platform. For ongoing updates and additional boxing content, enthusiasts can visit the ESPN boxing hub, which offers the latest news, rankings, and features in the realm of boxing.
