A thrilling bantamweight world title unification fight is on the horizon as Junto Nakatani and Ryosuke Nishida are scheduled to meet on June 8 at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan.
Japan currently reigns supreme in the 118-pound division, with Japanese boxers holding all four major world titles. These champions include Nakatani (WBC), Nishida (IBF), Seiya Tsutsumi (WBA), and Yoshiki Takei (WBO).
The unification bout was set in motion two months prior when Nakatani secured a third-round stoppage victory over David Cuellar. Following the win, Nishida entered the ring to challenge Nakatani, and both fighters agreed to a unification clash later in the year. Now, the date for this exciting matchup is officially confirmed.
Junto Nakatani, 27, is in his second year as the WBC bantamweight titleholder. He is a seasoned world champion, having previously held titles in the super-flyweight and flyweight divisions. A victory in this unification fight could pave the way for Nakatani to pursue a world title in a fourth weight class before the end of the year, potentially against Naoya Inoue, who is considered Japan`s premier boxer. Nakatani and Inoue recently exchanged a handshake at the Japanese Boxing Commission Awards, hinting at a possible future blockbuster fight. However, Inoue must first defend his undisputed 122-pound title against Ramon Cardenas on May 4 in Las Vegas.
Ryosuke Nishida, 28, enters the fight with a perfect record of 10 wins and no losses, including 2 knockouts. He captured the IBF bantamweight title in May 2024 with a unanimous decision victory over former two-time champion Emmanuel Rodriguez. Eight months later, Nishida successfully defended his title with a seventh-round knockout of Anuchai Donsua, which was only his second knockout win. In contrast, Nakatani has a significant knockout ratio, having stopped 23 of his 30 opponents, showcasing his notable power.
The undercard will feature rising bantamweight prospect Tenshin Nasukawa (6-0, 2 KOs). A victory for Nasukawa over Victor Santillan (14-1, 5 KOs) could bring him closer to a world title opportunity. Santillan`s only defeat came against Sho Ishida in June 2023.
During the press conference to announce the unification fight, Nakatani stated, “I’ve been wanting this kind of fight. I’m prepared to elevate all aspects of my boxing.” Nishida responded, “I feel I must fight a boxer who is considered stronger than me. I have no intention of being a mere stepping stone for him.”
