Junto Nakatani not solely makes weight however makes some extent to come back in underneath the divisional restrict.
The three-division and reigning WBC bantamweight titlist was 117 ¾ kilos throughout his newest journey to the size. Nakatani defends his belt versus Thailand’s Petch CP Freshmart, who was 117 ½ kilos.
Their scheduled 12-rounder headlines an ESPN+ quadrupleheader, which incorporates three title fights, on Monday from Ariake Area in Tokyo.
Nakatani (28-0, 21 knockouts) is contemporary off a first-round knockout of the Philippines’ Vincent Astrolabio. Their July 20 headliner at Kokugikan Area in Tokyo topped a lineup much like this occasion.
The win over Astrolabio adopted Nakatani’s Feb. 24 sixth-round knockout of Alexandro Santiago to turn out to be a three-division titlist. Monday marks the third combat of the 12 months for Nakatani, all with the WBC bantamweight title at stake.
CP Freshmart (76-1, 53 KOs)—beginning identify Tasana Salapat—amazingly enters his first profession title combat.
The 30-year-old southpaw has been a professional for greater than 13 years. The closest he’s come to a significant belt was a Dec. 2018 loss to Takuma Inoue of their interim WBC bantamweight title combat. CP Freshmart—beginning identify Tasana Salapat—has received 28 in a row, although principally versus middling competitors.
The night’s co-feature is the lone non-title combat of the evening. Well-liked gate attraction Tenshin Nasukawa meets Philippines’ Gerwin Asilo (9-0, 4 KOs) in a ten-round regional title combat.
Nasukawa (4-0, 2 KOs) weighed proper on the 118-pound divisional restrict. Asilo (9-0, 4 KOs) was barely lighter at 117 ½ kilos for his first profession combat outdoors the Philippines.
Nasukawa is contemporary off his first true knockout victory. He knocked out Jonathan Rodriguez (not the fatty who blew weight versus Tanaka) within the third spherical on the July 20 Nakatani-Astrolabio undercard. He beforehand stopped Luis Robles within the third as nicely, although resulting from ankle harm.
The previous kickboxing star went the space in every of his first two bouts however is already being quick tracked in the direction of title rivalry.
Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) has a combat to stay up for this time round. The four-division and reigning WBO junior bantamweight titleholder faces unbeaten visiting South African contender Phumelele Cafu (10-0-3, 8 KOs).
Each fighters made weight, one thing which was a difficulty forward of Tanaka’s canceled July 20 title protection. Tanaka got here in proper on the 115-pound junior bantamweight mark. Cafu was 114 ¾ kilos for his first profession title combat.
Tanaka, No. 4 at 115, was resulting from defend his title on the July 20 Nakatani-Astrolabio card. Nevertheless, challenger Jonathan Rodriguez confirmed up greater than seven kilos above the 115-pound restrict and was scratched from the present.
Opening the telecast, lately topped WBO flyweight titlist Anthony Olascuaga meets former WBO 108-pound beltholder Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez.
Los Angeles’ Olascuaga (7-1, 5 KOs), No. 8 at 112, weighed 111 ¾ kilos for the primary defends of the title he received in a third-round knockout of Riku Kano. Puerto Rico’s Gonzalez (28-3-1, 14 KOs) got here in on the 112-pound restrict in a bid to turn out to be a two-division titlist.
The present airs stay on ESPN+ starting at 4:00 a.m. ET. It comes in the future after a 4 title combat affair at this very venue on Sunday. Each occasions are offered by Mr. Honda’s Teiken Promotions in affiliation with Prime Rank and All Star Boxing, Inc.
