Comments Thread For: Junto Nakatani targets bantamweight unification, calls out Naoya Inoue

[BoxingUpdates]

Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 knockouts) continued to audition for a pound-for-pound slot after a devastating first round KO win on Saturday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The Japanese Nakatani, 26, landed a straight left hand to the body of Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs) which sent the Filipino to the canvas and ended the bout abruptly.
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[BigZ44]

Nakatani is definitely the biggest threat to Inoue at 122 or below, this is an obvious fight to make in time, but let Nakatani work on 118 for a while first. I really want a unification between Nishida and Takei, the winner of that would be a great opponent for Nakatani and a huge fight in Japan. I'd love to see him fight Rungvisai next as a stay busy fight

[Pago007]

After the knockdown by Nery, the wolves are circling Ionue

[MulaKO]

The Monster vs Junto is one of those dream fights
They’ll have to get a 100 000 stadium for this one

[Boxing2695]

Inoue vs Nakatani is the biggest fight to make in Japan. would do crazy numbers over there on broadcast and at what venue they'd have for it

[BlackRobb]

After the knockdown by Nery, the wolves are circling Ionue

Not exactly. That's a reach.

[BlackRobb]

Let Bam move up to fight Nakatani before he leaves 118.

[Phase III]

Junto v Monster is the fight to watch. Junto is the real deal. Instead of Turkie paying big money for meaningless fights like Ruiz v Miller, make the fights that bring fireworks and stop being a fan boy. Instead of Canelo ducking Benevidez and paying him to fight a smaller Crawford, make Canelo vs Benevidez vs Morrell at 168, Boots vs Stanionis or Crawford.

[KING S.O.G]

Easy fight to make

[Elheath]

As someone who hates the American style "marinate and wait 6 years to fight", wierd as it may be coming from me if this fight is to happen it is still too early just yet...not wait 5 years but as in, one more year would make it ideal.

Assuming he keeps his schedule trend, Inoue clears out MJ and Goodman in December and next May after Doheny this September. Hell if it is after those two and Inoue wants another stay busy fight in between, throw Casimero to be a fodder in September. In the mean time given all the rumors I'm reading, assuming Takuma fights Tsutsumi on November and wins while already confirmed Takei fights Higa in September, Nakatani hopefully can manage to fight Nishida on November crossing fingers Teiken can convince them (longshot dream). Spring next year Takuma and Nakatani fights for three belts and winner (Nakatani) fights winner of Takei/Higa or whoever has WBO at that point in the fall.

Then December 2025, Tokyo Dome redux. Naoya Inoue age 32 vs Junto Nakatani few days before 28, both still in prime and the battle of undefeated undisputed bantam and undefeated undisputed superbantam. I think Inoue will still win if end of next year, but the loss won't change Nakatani's value IMO. Regardless after that, Inoue goes up to feather and Nakatani moves up to superbantam.

In reality though given that Nishida is promoted by Kameda which doesn't cooperate with Teiken/Ohashi, he probably won't be in the loop. So the next best dream would be Inoue take care of MJ/Goodman in Dec/May 2025 while Nakatani stays busy and fights Takuma in spring 2025 and then fight Naoya on fall 2025 before he goes up to feather. I don't see Bam and Nakatani being able to fight given they Teiken.