Getting to Know Junto Nakatani: The Three-Division Champion Shaking Up the Boxing World

At just 27 years old and the possessor of  a perfect record of 31 wins—24 by knockout—Japan’s Junto Nakatani has firmly established himself as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

A three-division world champion and the WBC bantamweight titleholder, Nakatani impresses not only with his efficiency but also with his composure, flawless technique, and devastating finishing power.

Born in Mie Prefecture, Nakatani made his professional debut in 2015 and quickly climbed the rankings with a precise, elegant, elongated southpaw style. His first world title came in November 2020, when he captured the WBO flyweight belt by defeating Giemel Magramo. Two successful defenses followed, before he moved up to super flyweight, where he claimed a second world title in May 2023 with a spectacular knockout of Andrew Moloney in Las Vegas.

But his most stunning leap came in February 2024, when he made his bantamweight debut and dethroned Mexican champion Alexandro Santiago via sixth-round TKO to claim the WBC world title. Since then, Nakatani’s dominance has been absolute: four title defenses, all won by stoppage, including knockouts over Vincent Astrolabio, Petch Chitpattana, and Mexico’s David “General” Cuéllar, whom he dropped twice in less than  three rounds this past February.

On June 8, at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, Nakatani unified the WBC and IBF belts by defeating fellow Japanese fighter Ryosuke Nishida, who was unable to continue after suffering an eye injury in the sixth round. With that victory, Nakatani also claimed the vacant The Ring magazine championship, cementing his status as the undisputed king of the bantamweight division.

Now, all eyes are on a potential legendary showdown between Junto Nakatani and Naoya “Monster” Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion. A dream fight already in the making, it could take place in 2026 at the iconic Tokyo Dome. If finalized, it would be the biggest all-Japanese clash in boxing history—two undefeated champions with global supremacy on the line.

In the meantime, Nakatani continues to train with the same quiet discipline that has propelled him to the top. No trash talk, no showboating—just the kind of silent power that can knock out anyone who dares to stand in his way.