There's a joy about Junto Nakatani when he goes about his business and fight fans will see him all smiles again when he defends his WBC bantamweight title against fellow southpaw Tasana Salapat at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on October 14.
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. Tasana Salapat, exclusively on ESPN+
Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) is a three-weight world champion, a fierce knockout artist, and one of the most exciting fighters in the world today. In his most recent outing, he blasted out Vincent Astrolabio in a single round with a body punch.
Salapat (76-1, 53 KOs) has been installed as high as a +1600 underdog, which essentially means he needn't bother showing up. While the Thai fighter has had 77 fights, he's never mixed with an opponent on this level and it's widely expected that his limitations will be ruthlessly exposed.
The Sporting News looks at what Nakatani will do after he takes care of Salapat on Monday.
Will Junto Nakatani fight Takuma Inoue?
The Nakatani vs. Takuma Inoue fight makes sense for three reasons.
First, it's a bantamweight unification bout. Second, it features two Japanese fighters and it's easy to make. Third, Naoya Inoue stated that if Nakatani wants a shot at him, then he must overcome his brother first.
"I wish to go forward with my next fight in December," Inoue said at a recent press conference. "I've had no damage [in the TJ Doheny fight]. Before [Nakatani] moves up to fight me, he will have to fight my brother, Takuma. That's not easy because Takuma will be a very tough opponent and a thick wall for Nakatani."
Takuma, the WBA bantamweight champ, takes on compatriot Seiya Tsutsumi on October 13. If both he and Nakatani successfully defend their respective titles, then expect to see them square off next.
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Will Junto Nakatani fight Naoya Inoue?
Well, it all depends on what happens in the proposed unification clash between Nakatani and Takuma.
Takuma is a champion and he hasn't lost a fight since November 2019. It's no exaggeration to state that he's one of the most improved fighters in world boxing.
However, Nakatani is an elite-level operator and a pound-for-pound entrant. He carries a much bigger punch than Takuma, his skills are believed to be superior, and he would be open as a huge favorite.
If Natakani unifies the bantamweight division at the expense of Takuma Inoue, then the revenge angle would only bolster a Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani showdown. A match-up between the pair would unquestionably be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.
"The fight with [Naoya] Inoue is the one I want," said Nakatani following his most recent win. "A lot of people are really expecting this fight. I will continue to get stronger and will be ready for that fight."
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