Big time boxing once again lands in Japan this Saturday, as Kokugikan hosts three world title clashes. At the head of affairs, home hero Junto Nakatani attempts to dethrone WBC bantamweight champion, Alexandro Santiago, who makes the first defence of his title.
Santiago vs Nakatani will be available in the USA on ESPN +.
Santiago (28-3-5, 14 KOs) had a career littered with draws, with his previous world title credentials a 2018 stalemate with Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF super flyweight title, and after patiently working his way back into contention, the Mexican opposed the highly experienced and decorated Nonito Donaire in July last year for the vacant WBC bantamweight crown, and turned in a career-best performance to take a points win in Las Vegas.
Nakatani (26-0, 19 KOs) represents a stiff test in Santiago’s first defence, as the Kanagawa native attempts to become a three-weight world champion with victory here.
After a spell as WBO flyweight champion from 2020 to 2022, Nakatani then upset Andrew Moloney for the vacant WBO belt at super flyweight in May last year, dropping the Aussie three times on the way to a final round knockout, and defended in his homeland with a wide points win against Argi Cortes four months later.
DEVASTING KNOCKOUT 👊 #NakataniMoloney
Watch #HaneyLoma RIGHT NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV pic.twitter.com/ACuAaxmExy
— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) May 21, 2023
Prediction: Nakatani is the fresher and more seasoned fighter, and Santiago will have his hands full in the challenger’s back yard. I lean towards Nakatani becoming the new champion via late stoppage.
Two world title bouts top stacked undercard.
The previously mentioned Jerwin Ancajas (34-3-2, 23 KOs) finds himself in the role of challenger in Japan, and he tackles Takuma Inoue (18-1, 4 KOs) for the WBA bantamweight strap.
Ancajas ruled as IBF champion at super flyweight for over five years, defending nine times before dropping a pair of decisions to Fernando Daniel Martinez in 2022. The Filipino moved up in weight in his last outing, a fifth round stoppage of Wilner Soto last June.
Inoue was WBC interim champion in 2018, but then lost to Nordine Oubaali for the full version of the belt, and four straight wins got him back in the world title mix. He received a shot at the vacant WBA belt last April, and handily outscored Liborio Solis in his homeland to become world champion.
Prediction: Inoue is durable, and with Ancajas showing miles on the clock, I think Inoue can retain with a clear points win.
The third and final world title match-up comes at super flyweight, where Junto Nakatani’s old WBO belt is up for grabs between Kosei Tanaka (19-1, 11 KOs) and Christian Bacasegua Rangel (22-4-2, 9 KOs).
Tanaka is a former WBO flyweight champion, and his sole loss came in a stoppage defeat to Kazuto Ioka for the WBO super flyweight crown in 2020.
#OnThisDay in 2020 – Kazuto Ioka defeated Kosei Tanaka by TKO in round 8 of 12 to retain the WBO super flyweight title. pic.twitter.com/386ySBxd0C
— 𝒟𝒾𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜𝓈 (@DiariosJournals) December 31, 2023
He has won four on the spin since. Rangel hasn’t fought outside of Mexico, and has been halted, and I fancy Tanaka to win inside schedule.
Jonas Sultan (19-6, 11 KOs) may still have enough know-how to outhustle Riku Masuda (3-1, 3 KOs), and he can win on the cards in their bantamweight meeting.
At featherweight, Kensho Oyamada and Ren Kobayashi meet in a battle of debutants.
