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WBC STATISTICS
WBC Bantamweight World Championship
July 20, 2024 / Tokyo, Japan / Ryōgoku Kokugikan Arena
TEIKEN PROMOTIONS PRESENTS:
JUNTO NAKATANI (Japan)
WBC Bantamweight World Champion
Age: 26 / Date of birth: January 2, 1998
Residence: Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan / Birthplace: Inabe-Gun, Toin Cho, Mie, Japan
Record: 27-0, 20 KOs / Total rounds: 130 / World championship fights: 6-0, 5 KOs
Height: 5’7” – 170cm / Reach: 67” – 170cm / Stance: Left-handed
Promoter: Akihiko Honda / Manager: Takeshi Murano / Trainer: Rudy Hernandez
VINCENT “Asero” ASTROLABIO (Philippines)
Ranked WBC No. 1 at Bantamweight / Mandatory Challenger
Age: 27 / Date of birth: April 1, 1997
Residence: Davao City, Davao del Sur, Philippines / Birthplace: General Santos City, Cotabato del Sur, Philippines
Record: 19-4, 14 KOs / Total rounds: 141 / World championship fights: 0-1
Height: 5’5” – 165cm / Reach: Reach: 65” – 165cm / Stance: Right-handed
Promoter: Manny Pacquiao / Manager, trainer: Nonoy Neri
1. Eder Jofre (Brazil) 1963 – 1965
2. Masahiko Harada (Jap) 1965 – 1968
3. Lionel Rose (Aust) 1968 – 1969
4. Ruben Olivares (Mex) 1969 – 1970
5. Chucho Castillo (Mex) 1970 – 1971
6. Ruben Olivares (Mex) * 1971 – 1972
7. Rafael Herrera (Mex) 1972
8. Enrique Pinder (Pan) 1972
9. Rafael Herrera (Mex) * 1973 – 1974
10. Rodolfo Martinez (Mex) 1974 – 1976
11. Carlos Zarate (Mex) 1976 – 1979
12. Lupe Pintor (Mex) 1979 – 1982
13. Albert Davila (US) 1983 – 1984
14. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) 1985
15. Miguel Lora (Col) 1985 – 1988
16. Raul Perez (Mex) 1988 – 1991
17. Greg Richardson (US) 1991
18. Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (Jap) 1991 – 1993
19. Victor Rabanales (Mex) (Interim) 1992 – 1993
20. Jungil Byun (Kor) 1993
21. Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (Jap) (Interim)* 1993 – 1994
22. Yasuei Yakushiji (Jap) 1993 – 1995
23. Wayne McCullough (Ire) 1995 – 1996
24. Sirimongkol Singmanassuk (Thai) 1996 – 1997
25. Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (Jap) * 1997 – 1998
26. Veeraphol Nakhonluang (Thai) 1998 – 2005
27. Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan) 2005 – 2010
28. Fernando Montiel (Mexico) 2010 – 2011
29. Nonito Donaire (Phil) 2011
30. Shinsuke Yamanaka (Japan) 2011 – 2017
31. Luis Nery (Mexico) 2017 – 2018
32. Takuma Inoue (Japan) (Interim) 2018
33. Nordine Oubaali (France) 2019 – 2021
34. Nonito Donaire (Phil)* 2021 – 2022
35. Naoya Inoue (Japan) 2022
36. Alexandro Santiago (Mexico) 2023 – 2024
37. Junto Nakatani (Japan) 2024 –
*Regained
32 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, four of whom have regained the title: Ruben Olivares (Mexico), Rafael Herrera (Mexico), Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (Japan) two times, Nonito Donaire.
141 bantamweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.
1. Carlos Zarate (Mexico)
2. Eder Jofre (Brazil)
3. Ruben Olivares (Mexico)
4. Rafael Herrera (Mexico)
5. Veeraphol Nakhonluang (Thai)
6. Joichiro Tatsuyoshi (Japan)
7. Jungil Byun (Korea)
8. Yasuei Yakushiji (Japan)
9. Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan)
10. Shinsuke Yamanaka (Japan)
Feb. 24, 2024 Junto Nakatani TKO6 Alexandro Santiago – Tokyo, Japan
July 29, 2023 Alexandro Santiago W12 Nonito Donaire – Las Vegas, Nevada
Dec.13, 2022 Naoya Inoue KO11 Paul Butler – Tokyo, Japan
June 7, 2022 Naoya Inoue TKO2 Nonito Donaire – Saitama, Japan
Dec. 11, 2021 Nonito Donaire KO4 Reymart Gaballo – Carson, California
May 29, 2021 Nonito Donaire KO4 Nordine Oubaali – Carson, California
Nov. 7, 2019 Nordine Oubaali W12 Takuma Inoue – Saitama, Japan
Jan. 19, 2019 Nordine Oubaali W12 Rau’Shee Warren – Las Vegas, Nevada
Aug. 15, 2017 Luis Nery KO4 Shinsuke Yamanaka – Kyoto, Japan
Sep. 22, 2015 Shinsuke Yamanaka W12 Anselmo Moreno – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 6, 2011 Shinsuke Yamanaka TKO11 Christian Esquivel – Tokyo, Japan
Feb. 19, 2011 Nonito Donaire TKO2 Fernando Montiel – Las Vegas, Nevada
Apr. 30, 2010 Fernando Montiel TKO4 Hozumi Hasegawa – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 16, 2005 Hozumi Hasegawa W12 Veeraphol Sahaprom – Tokyo, Japan
June 25, 2000 Veeraphol Sahaprom W12 Toshiaki Nishioka – Takasago, Japan
Aug. 10, 1996 Sirimongkol Singwancha TKO5 Jose Luis Bueno – Phitsanulok, Thailand
Jul. 30, 1995 Wayne McCullough W12 Yasuei Yakushiji – Nagoya, Japan
Sep. 17, 1992 Victor Rabanales TKO9 Joichiro Tatsuyoshi – Osaka, Japan
Sep. 19, 1991 Joichiro Tatsuyoshi TKO10 Greg Richardson – Moriguchi, Japan
Oct. 29, 1988 Raul Perez W12 Miguel Lora – Las Vegas, Nevada
Aug. 9, 1985 Miguel Lora W12 Daniel Zaragoza – Miami, Florida
June 3, 1979 Lupe Pintor W15 Carlos Zarate – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 8, 1976 Carlos Zarate KO9 Rodolfo Martinez – Inglewood, California
Dec. 7, 1974 Rodolfo Martinez TKO4 Rafael Herrera – Merida, Yucatan
Mar. 19, 1972 Rafael Herrera KO5 Ruben Olivares – Mexico City, Distrito Federal
Aug. 22, 1969 Ruben Olivares KO4 Lionel Rose – Inglewood, California
Mar. 8, 1969 Lionel Rose W15 Alan Rudkin – Melbourne, Australia
May 18, 1965 Fighting Harada W15 Eder Jofre – Nagoya, Japan
Apr. 4, 1963 Eder Jofre KO3 Katsutoshi Aoki – Kokugican, Japan
By James Blears
WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani defends his title against mandatory challenger Vincent Astrolabio on July 20th at Ryogoko Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in the heart of Tokyo.
Aged twenty-six Junto whose nickname is ‘’Fist Fighter of Love’’, has captured the adoration of Japanese fight fans. Undefeated with a dazzling record of 27-0, 20 KO’s, his rise has been meteoric, in winning world titles at flyweight, super-flyweight and most recently at bantamweight.
Tall and slender, the Japanese southpaw possesses excellent boxing skills and a devastating left hand, with which has often as not concludes fights in spectacular style. World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has gone to Japan to be Supervisor of this fight, to see Japan’s brightest young rising star for himself. But his opponent from the Philippines is determined to try and pull off an extraordinary away from home vIctory.
Junto the son of restauranteurs, has thus far captured the essence, flavour and aroma of sweet success. He says: ‘’Boxing is in my blood. The history, culture and mentality. Japanese fighters have an indomitable spirit, which I always heed. I will never give up.
‘’I’m good at long range, using my height advantage, but I’m also able to fight well on the inside. So, I have the options to adjust to any opponent and catch them with my left, which is my Sunday punch.’’
Junto’s trainer is Rudy Hernandez. He took his brother the late Great Genaro ‘’Chicanito’’ all the way to world title Glory, winning the WBC super-featherweight title by SD against the legendary Azumah Nelson. Then three successful defences before being defeated by Floyd Mayweather.
Rudy who has more recently successfully trained Carlos Cuadras, was also cut man for Roman ‘’Chocolatito’’ Gonzalez. He first spotted Junto as a teenager and brought him to LA, where the youngster’s immense talent became evident, especially during sparring, aged just fifteen.
Junto has climbed up the flyweight, super-flyweight and now bantamweight divisions but wants to go even higher. He said: ‘’Rudy tells me I can go up to the one hundred and thirty division which is super-featherweight division and I believe so.’’
But first he encounters Vincent who in the lyrics of Don McClean is seeking his very own Starry, Starry Night.
Vincent turned pro in 2015, the same year as Junto. He’s a solid and seasoned fighter with a record of 19-4, 14 KO’s. it’s his second bid and tilt for a world title. In May 2023, he lost a MD to slick boxing Jason Maloney for the vacant WBO bantamweight title. His only stoppage defeat was against Yuki Strong Kobayashi when he was TKO’d in the fourth.
His breakout victory came against ageing Guillermo Rigondeaux for the vacant WBC International bantamweight title, which he won by UD. On the way he knocked down the Cuban in the eighth. He earned his opportunity by defeating Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai by a UD in a title eleminator.
A compact five feet five and a half inches tall, his reach extends sixty-five and a half inches. Originally for General Santos City, and one year older than Junto, he’s now based in Las Vegas. His trainer and strategist Nonoy Neri.
Vincent’s rise has been solid and successful for the most part. His first championship success was against then undefeated Patrick Liukhoto with a ninth round TKO for the vacant WBO Oriental bantamweight title, which he successfully defended twice.
His big break came in defeating Guillermo Rigondeaux. Then he fought and KO’d Nikolai Potapov in this US debut, in Las Vegas for the vacant WBO Intercontinental belt. Vincent knocked him down in the first and fifth, before finishing it a round later.
Then a hiccup in losing by MD, to Jason Maloney for the vacant WBO bantamweight title. But he bounced back to defeat WBC number one ranked Nawaphon Kaikanha, in an official eliminator. Vincent dropped him with a peach of a counter right in the eleven. Nawaphon bravely got up, but moments later the bout was waved off by Referee Yuji Fukuchi.
Nicknamed Steel, Vincent must muster all of his wiles, teak toughness and mettle against the formidable Junto, who is taller, standing five feet seven and a half inches with a sixty-seven inches reach.
Junto is tall and rangy. He is Five feet seven and a half inches tall, with that sixty- seven inches reach. He won the vacant WBO flyweight title defeating ex Light flyweight champion of that organization Giemel Magramo by eight round TKO. Then two successful defences, including his American debut in stopping Angel Acosta by TKO in four.
After halting Ryota Yamachi via eight round TKO, Junto stopped Andrew Maloney by a one punch mighty straight left in the twelfth round, for the vacant WBO super-flyweight title. What a blockbuster!!! Junto felled Andrew in the second round with a volley up uppercuts. Two left uppers and then an even harder right. A big left dropped him in the eleventh and then the spectacular finish in the final round.
Then on to WBC bantamweight champion Alexandro Santiago who came to Kokugikan on February 24th to defend the vacant title he’s won by UD against the legendary Nonito Donaire.
Junto towered over the five feet two and a half inches tall Pride of Tijuana. In round six he canvassed Alexandro with his trademark straight left. Alexandro bravely got up but was trapped on the ropes and battered and yet another left put him down and it was promptly stopped by Referee Laurence Cole. It was Alexandro’s first defeat by stoppage as a pro.
Junto is a superb fighter in every aspect. He can box and he can deliver a poleaxing KO laser left. He judges and controls distance with a jarring right southpaw lead and he’s elusive. His idol is Naoya ‘’Monster’’ Inoue the Undisputed super-bantamweight champion. Most likely that one day they’ll fight and what a night that would be!
The immediate business concerns Vincent, who must avoid that devastating left hand and being pot shotted at range. It’s a daunting prospect for the Filipino fighter and accordingly he’s been preparing for the fight of his life. A win for him would catapult him to superstar status and stun the Japanese fans. While Junto is determined to march onwards and upwards in divisions seeking yet more
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