Junto Nakatani saw his stock rise even further, as he captured the WBC bantamweight title with a stunning sixth round stoppage win against Alexandro Santiago.
Santiago (28-4-5, 14 KOs) won the title a fight earlier with an upset points win against Nonito Donaire, but he was little trouble for Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs), who was coming up from super flyweight after a spell as WBO champion at the weight, as well as previously reigning as WBO boss at flyweight.
A ramrod straight left hand dropped the champion in the sixth frame, and although he survived the count, the Mexican was over again on the resumption, as a sweeping right hook decked him.
As he rose groggily, the fight was stopped by Santiago’s corner and the referee.
Inoue halts Ancajas
Naoya Inoue‘s younger brother, Takuma knocked out Jerwin Ancajas in the ninth round to retain his WBA bantamweight world ttile.
Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs) won the vacant belt in April last year with a clear points win against Liborio Solis, and his first defence came against Ancajas (34-4-2, 23 KOs), who had moved up in weight after serving as IBF super flyweight champion from 2016 to 2022.
Inoue found his timing early on, but the visitor grew into the argument, having a strong fourth frame, landing several slashing shots with both hands as he troubled the home fighter.
The 28-year-old bounced back with a solid fifth round, but rather than stick to his boxing, he decided to trade with the Filipino in rounds six and seven, and the ’Pretty Boy’ was getting the better of the exchanges.
The tactics continued to be abandoned by Inoue in favour of trading, and Ancajas was dragging the champion into a slugfest, but just as it looked like Inoue was fading, he unleashed a right hand to the body that caused a delayed reaction from the 32-year-old, and he fell to the canvas.
BRUTAL BODY SHOT SEALS THE DEAL 🫢@TakumaInoue_122 x #InoueAncajas pic.twitter.com/cVcrH7pr83
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 24, 2024
The visitor was unable to beat the count, and the belt stayed in Japan.
There could now be calls for an all-Japanese unification between Nakatani and Inoue.
Tanaka wins WBO super flyweight title
The third and final world title attraction saw Kosei Tanaka claim the vacant WBO super flyweight title, handily outscoring the tough Christian Bacasegua Rangel (22-5-2, 9 KOs).
Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) put in a breathless performance, and ran out the winner by scores of 119-108, 117-110 and 116-111 to become a four-weight world champion.
4-WEIGHT WORLD CHAMP. pic.twitter.com/a2Uhd6WAvw
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 24, 2024
Remaining Undercard
Riku Masuda (4-1, 4 KOs) scored an impressive win, as he halted Jonas Sultan in the first round of their scheduled eight rounder at bantamweight.
A wicked body shot stopped Sultan (19-7, 11 KOs) in his tracks, and the fight was waved off.
In the battle of the debutants at featherweight, Ren Kobayashi (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Kensho Oyamada (0-1) in the fourth and final round of their meeting.
