Comments Thread For: Junto Nakatani-David Cuellar, Seiya Tsutsumi-Daigo Higa II set for February 24 on ESPN+

[BoxingUpdates]

WBC bantamweight titleholder Junto Nakatani will fight undefeated David Cuellar on February 24 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, according to a Top Rank announcement.
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[Kevsfine]

Should be good while it lasts….lets go Nakatani!!!

[Elheath]

Not gonna lie, I'm very surprised that not only Picasso, Mexico is also willing to let Cueller lose his zero as well. I thought Cueller and Picasso were those they wanted to make into "young future Mexican star" if anything...in case of Picasso they probably think he's got nothing to really lose and everything to gain (plus great money) by losing to Inoue, but perhaps Nakatani showing up on the P4P ranking is making them think that similar to Inoue and Canelo vs Munguia, losing to him won't hurt his long term value?

Or, as fiery Mexican fighters their fans and promoters are less worshipping of the BS holy zero and willing to go for glory?

[erlyinvite]

Hey Escape Road Game
It's interesting, isn't it? Maybe the promoters realize that even in a loss, fighters like Picasso and Cuellar can gain valuable experience and respect.

[boxingitis]

Not gonna lie, I'm very surprised that not only Picasso, Mexico is also willing to let Cueller lose his zero as well. I thought Cueller and Picasso were those they wanted to make into "young future Mexican star" if anything...in case of Picasso they probably think he's got nothing to really lose and everything to gain (plus great money) by losing to Inoue, but perhaps Nakatani showing up on the P4P ranking is making them think that similar to Inoue and Canelo vs Munguia, losing to him won't hurt his long term value?

Or, as fiery Mexican fighters their fans and promoters are less worshipping of the BS holy zero and willing to go for glory?

We just want to see people beat the **** up. That's why Mexicans love Pacman. He gave a lot Mexicans a beating.

[Elheath]

Hey Escape Road Game
It's interesting, isn't it? Maybe the promoters realize that even in a loss, fighters like Picasso and Cuellar can gain valuable experience and respect.

Yeah and if they plan on staying around the 118-122 weight divisions for a while, selling your name in Japan will really help you get future cash fights too. Both guys are still early 20s and having a good showing will make them have a good chance at a title again in the near future.

By the way, Moloney really made great of his loss to Inoue lead to multiple cash grabs in Japan. He fought Inoue, then got a belt which lead to him fighting as the semi of Inoue's Tokyo Dome festival in front of over 40k live audience AND also be a part of the highest viewed Amazon Prime live event in history of Japan. Although he lost his belt, even without a belt and coming off a loss, he is now fighting arguably the 2nd most famous boxer in Japan next in Tenshin Nasukawa (who's a superstar from his kickboxing era who converted last year to boxing) as a semi-main on Amazon Prime Japan and live in Ariake Arena, which is a major venue in Tokyo where Inoue usually does his fights. If Moloney can get a KD, or god forbid a win against Tenshin in Japan he is suddenly going to be the most popular foreign fighter in all of Japan. And Nasukawa, while talented and has very high potential, still is significantly easier to fight than Inoue or Nakatani, and Moloney is a very big step up.

[57Blues]

Good card solid set of match ups...

[crimsonfalcon07]

That's a solid card, and sets up the unification between Junto and Tsutsumi, who has said he wants to spoil the Inoue v Nakatani fight and get it for himself. Big step up for Tenshin, who will likely be pretty close to a title shot if he can win. I like the Moloneys. They have good skill, and always come to fight, so they're excellent gatekeepers.

[Idunnoshet]

Respect to " El General's " team for finally taking the fight.

Cuellar doesn't have much to bother Junto.

But in Boxing.
Anything can happen.

[Elheath]

That's a solid card, and sets up the unification between Junto and Tsutsumi, who has said he wants to spoil the Inoue v Nakatani fight and get it for himself. Big step up for Tenshin, who will likely be pretty close to a title shot if he can win. I like the Moloneys. They have good skill, and always come to fight, so they're excellent gatekeepers.

I think they are still planning to have Takuma get a title match chance again as well, so he may actually be next (assuming he fights a non-title fight in the spring too).

I read somewhere that Nishida (despite the wish of his gym owner) is planning on fighting around June next and willing/wanting an unification with Nakatani. He's talked about struggling to make weight and wanting to move up soon, so he probably thinks a fight with Nakatani on Amazon Prime is worth selling the belt instead of just vacating. February Cuellar, June Nishida unification, October best case another unification with Tsutsumi/Nishida/Takuma, or if not maybe just move up to 122 and get a fight with a highly ranked known contender (possibly someone like Tapales?) in preparation for Inoue showdown, or even a final defense before moving up against Estrada in an US card is also not a bad opponent choice IMO.
With Takei absolutely not allowed to touch Nakatani prior to the Tenshin showdown which is too big for casual Japan public to passdown, Nakatani won't go undisputed IMO at 118 so waiting for that is probably not worth it.

Moloney seems like a smart dude in terms of knowing boxing as a competition and business. He's good at saying the right stuff at interviews, willing to travel anywhere if it is benefitting, and uses his position as former Inoue victim and former world titlist quite well. Despite not having fought since May, his name popped up a lot as Tsutsumi's sparring partner so he is still relatively freshly remembered by Japanese boxing fans. Also, being Australian probably helps as well due to very little time zone difference, so Australian boxing fans can watch the Japan cards on their prime time too.

Jason made his highest purse in career against Inoue at the time, but perhaps his purse against Takei was possibly his biggest because Ohashi mentioned he made the most lucrative offers financially possible to all the undercards as well. I won't be surprised if the Tenshin fight got him his third highest career pay given his fame and popularity.

Shame that ERod hasn't been able to capitalize too despite being in a similar status, as a boxer he's better than Moloney but bad luck and inactivity isn't helping him.