Tenshin Nasukawa always intended to hit the ground running the moment he decided to make the transition to pro boxing.
The longtime kickboxing legend is now set to take on his second former major titlist in a three-fight span – and just eight bouts into his pro journey. Additionally, Nasukawa’s upcoming clash with countryman Takuma Inoue will come with the vacant WBC 118lbs title at stake.
“I feel things are progressing exactly according to plan,” Nasukawa told BoxingScene, through translator and Teiken Promotions’ US coordinator Nobu Ikushima. “It’s not quite ‘words have power,’ but I’ve realized again that if you strongly envision something, it can come true.”
Nasukawa, 7-0 (2 KOs), quickly earned his place at the table following back-to-back 10-round unanimous decision victories over Jason Moloney and Victor Santillan earlier this year.
Australia’s Moloney was one fight removed from the end of his WBO 118lbs title reign and was still viewed among the division’s best. It showed in their February 24 meeting at Ariake Arena, barely 15 minutes from where Nasukawa will compete for his first major title.
Nasukawa remained a step ahead of the wily veteran for much of the night, but he also endured his stiffest test to date. That much was to be expected. Even factoring in his status as one of the greatest kickboxers ever, Nasukawa was still only 22 months into his pro boxing career and fighting in just his sixth bout.
By the end of the night, he gained nearly everything he wanted and expected from the experience of facing a championship-caliber fighter.
“I felt that my boxing range and possibilities improved,” insisted Nasukawa. “Until now, my style was mainly about moving with footwork, but I was able to create a style where I deliberately engage in exchanges.
“Winning that fight opened up new possibilities for me.”
The unbeaten southpaw Nasukawa was far more critical of his performance in his most recent bout.
Nasukawa was seemingly dominant in a victory over Santillan, an unbeaten Dominican. The final scores – 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91 – well reflected what took place in the ring on June 8 in Tokyo’s Ariake Colosseum.
The source of Nasukawa’s frustration, however, stemmed from what he felt he didn’t do that evening.
“I couldn’t show in the match the performance I usually achieve in sparring and training,” explained Nasukawa, ever the perfectionist. “If it doesn’t come out in the fight, it’s meaningless.
“So during this period, I’ve been reviewing step by step why it didn’t show up in the match. Whether it was footwork or each movement, I’ve been correcting things while asking why they weren’t functioning properly.”
It was good enough to remain highly ranked with the sanctioning bodies and position himself for a windfall.
Both of Nasukawa’s wins on the year came in chief support to countryman Junto Nakatani, at the time an unbeaten bantamweight champion. Nakatani defeated Ryosuke Nishida via sixth-round knockout to unify the WBC and IBF 118lbs in the June 8 main event.
It was well known that the fight would be the last at bantamweight for the 5ft 9ins southpaw Nakatani, who will now make his junior featherweight debut next month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The desire to pursue fellow Japanese star and reigning undisputed champion Naoya Inoue prompted Nakatani to abandon his reign, leaving the division’s top contenders to vie for the vacant titles.
Although not the same as lifting the belt from a reigning titleholder, Nasukawa at least will get to square off with a fighter who has carried experience at that level.
In fact, Nasukawa’s April 2023 pro debut came on the same show as Inoue’s WBA 118lbs title-winning effort.
Inoue defeated Liborio Solis to claim one of the four belts previously held by older brother Naoya. He made two successful defenses before succumbing to countryman Seiya Tsutsumi in their 12-round thriller last October 13 at Ariake Arena.
The bout was part of a two-night, seven-title-fight festival that also saw Nasukawa go 10 rounds for the first time. His win over Gerwin Asilo was the only contest among the eight that aired on ESPN+ and Amazon Prime Video-Japan to not have a major title at stake.
A win on Monday will deservedly place Nasukawa in the conversation among the world’s best bantamweights. Furthermore, it should silence at least some of the detractors who remain dismissive of his pro boxing journey.
“Overseas, it might be different, but in Japan there are still people who don’t fully recognize me because I came from another combat sport,” Nasukawa said. “Even if I win on the 24th, my own values won’t change – it will be a fight that changes the people around me.
“But I think this would be one indicator that even those people would have no choice but to acknowledge me.”
