Junto Nakatani and Vincent Astrolabio firefight will light up Tokyo
By James Blears
WBC World bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20KO) defends his title against mandatory challenger Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14KO) on July 20th at Ryogoko Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in the heart of Tokyo, Japan.
Aged just 26, Junto, whose nickname is “Fist Fighter of Love”, has captured the adoration of Japanese fight fans. Undefeated with a perfect record, 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 flown to Japan especially to be the Supervisor of this fight, just 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, and the dangerous fighter has nothing to lose.
Triple champ 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 a cutman 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 15 at the time.
Junto has climbed up the fly, super-fly, and now bantamweight divisions but wants to go even higher. He said: ‘’Rudy tells me I can go up to the 130lbs division, which is super-featherweight, 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 for a world title. In May 2023, he lost a MD to slick-boxing Aussie 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 round of their 2018 fight.
His breakout victory came against ageing Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux for the vacant WBC International bantamweight title, which he won by UD. On the way to his career-best victory, he knocked down the Cuban stylist in the eighth. He earned his opportunity by defeating Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai by a UD in a title eliminator.
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 is 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 in 2019, which he successfully defended twice.
After defeating Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2022, he then fought and KO’d Nikolai Potapov in his US debut in December that year, 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 in May 2023. But he bounced back to defeat WBC number one ranked Nawaphon Kaikanha, in an official eliminator last August. Vincent dropped him with a peach of a counter right in the 11th. 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 organisation, Giemel Magramo, by eighth 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 12th round of their May 2023 clash for the vacant WBO super-flyweight title. What a blockbuster!!! Junto felled Andrew in the second round with a volley of powerful uppercuts. Two left uppers and then an even harder right. A big left dropped him in the 11th and then came the spectacular finish in the final round.
Then on to WBC bantamweight champion Alexandro Santiago who came to Kokugikan in February this year to defend the vacant title he 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.
Nakatani has stopped eight from his last 10 foes and 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. Perhaps they could fight one day in the future and what a night that would be!
The immediate business concerns Astrolabio, who must avoid that devastating left hand and being potshotted at range.
It’s a daunting prospect for the Filipino fighter and, according to reports, 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 Nakatani is determined to march through him to continue onwards and upwards in the divisions seeking more and more glory.
Tale of the Tape
JUNTO NAKATANI (Japan)
WBC Bantamweight World Champion
Age: 26
DOB: 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: Southpaw
Promoter: Akihiko Honda
Manager: Takeshi Murano
Trainer: Rudy Hernandez
VINCENT “Asero” ASTROLABIO (Philippines)
WBC #1 Bantamweight Challenger
Age: 27
DOB: 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: Orthodox
Promoter: Manny Pacquiao
Manager, trainer: Nonoy Neri
Betting Odds
1/16 Nakatani
13/1 Astrolabio
33/1 Draw
Prediction
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “I’m sure this will be entertaining while it lasts, but I’m expecting a comfortable KO win for Nakatani. I rate him on a much higher level than Astrolabio and I don’t think he will able to match the champion. I predict Nakatani will win in the first half of the championship contest to go on to much bigger fights and challenges.”
WBC TOP 10 BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
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)