Junto Nakatani: record, next fight and profile →
Andrew and Jason Moloney now have the chance to win major titles in consecutive weekends. BoxingScene.com has learned that a date and location have been secured for Andrew Moloney’s previously ordered vacant WBO junior bantamweight title fight versus Japan’s Junto Nakatani. Their finalized bout is set to take place May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The next two contenders in line are ready to fill the void left behind by Kazuto Ioka. BoxingScene.com has confirmed that Junto Nakatani and Andrew Moloney have been instructed to enter talks for an ordered vacant WBO junior bantamweight title. The development comes shortly after Ioka relinquished the crown to instead pursue a rematch with WBA 115-pound titlist Joshua Franco which is eyed for a June date in Japan. A negotiation deadline will be assigned to the pairing before a purse bid hearing is called, though it is expected that a deal will be reached well before that point
A rare attractive mandatory title fight is now destined for a purse bid hearing. Whether or not the bout comes to fruition is another story. BoxingScene.com has learned that talks have stalled in the WBO-ordered junior bantamweight title fight between defending champ Kazuto Ioka and former flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani. The pair of elite Japanese boxers were instructed on January 9 to reach terms within the 30-day negotiation period, but have failed to produce a deal. The WBO has now scheduled a purse bid hearing for February 23. The session will be open to all WBO-registered promoters, with a minimum accepted bid of $100,000 to validate the bid. Ioka will earn the favorable end of a 75/25 split, though BoxingScene.com has learned there is a chance of Ioka potentially going in a different direction—even at the risk of being stripped of his WBO title.
A rematch between Kazuto Ioka and Joshua Franco was always doubtful despite the demand immediately after their recent twelve-round draw. The WBO sent a reminder of why that was always the case.
Joshua Franco still has the same target in mind for his next fight even with one less belt at stake. A title unification with lineal/WBC junior bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada is still the priority for San Antonio’s Franco. The goal has not changed even after the reigning WBA titlist was forced to settle for a twelve-round, majority draw versus WBO champ Kazuto Ioka in their New Year’s Eve clash in Tokyo, Japan.
A significant title defense will await whoever prevails in the final title fight of 2022. BoxingScene.com has confirmed that former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani is guaranteed to next face the winner of the December 31 WBA/WBO junior bantamweight title unification bout between Joshua Franco and Kazuto Ioka at a location to be determined in Japan. The WBO offered its blessing to Franco-Ioka on the condition that the winner next faces Nakatani by no later than the end of next June.
Junto Nakatani passed a stiff test in his first official fight as a junior bantamweight contender. The unbeaten southpaw turned away a determined Francisco ‘Chihuas’ Rodriguez to claim a ten-round, unanimous decision win in their battle of former titlists. Scores of 99-90, 98-91 and 97-92 landed in favor of Nakatani in their non-title fight Tuesday evening (local time) at Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
Hiroto Kyoguchi and Kenshiro Teraji both weighed comfortably within the junior flyweight limit in their battle for divisional supremacy.
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez now has a clear path to campaign for the WBO flyweight title. The WBO ratings committee unanimously approved a request for San Antonio’s Rodriguez to be ranked number at flyweight and immediately challenge for the title. The motion was presented Thursday morning during the ratings
The light flyweight division takes center stage Tuesday, Nov. 1, as two championship fights with three world titles at stake headline a loaded card from Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.