Undefeated WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, will make the first defense of his title on July 20th at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, against the mandatory challenger, Filipino Vincent Astrolabio. A three-division champion, Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs), comes into this fight after winning the WBC bantamweight title by defeating Alexander Santiago last February. Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs), promoted by Manny Pacquiao, comes into this fight after defeating the tough Thai Navapon Khaikanha via technical knockout in the eleventh round of an eliminatory bout in August. Astrolabio filed in a WBO title bid last year vs. Jason Moloney.

 

PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE

 

Feb. 24, 2024...  Japan's Junto Nakatani is now a three-division champion and makes a very strong case for top ten pound-for-pound status. In Kokugikan, Japan, Nakatani stopped Alexandro Santiago and took the Mexican's WBC bantamweight championship. Nakatani got the stoppage when he floored Santiago twice in round six. Santiago beat the count both times, but was glassy eyed and cut. Now 27-0, Nakatani held the WBO 115-pound title last year and the WBO 112-pound title from 2020-2022. Santiago is now 28-4-5. In his prior fight, he defeated future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire for the vacant WBC title.