The unbeaten Junto Nakatani took his reputation to even greater heights by scoring a sixth-round TKO over Alexandro Santiago in Tokyo on Saturday. The victory saw the Japanese sensation pick up the WBC bantamweight title and become a three-weight world champion.
The official time was 1:12.
Southpaw Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs) dropped the Mexican slugger with a rocket straight left in round six. It looked like the type of knockdown that one doesn’t recover from and so it proved. When the stricken champ rose, Nakatani was on him like glue and closed the show with two thumping right hooks to the head.
WATCH: Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas, exclusively on ESPN+
“Thank you everyone for your support,” Nakatani told the home crowd during his post-fight interview. “I spent many hours training in LA and Japan. I want to thank Alexandro so much for tonight. Getting the WBC title is such an honor, especially since so many great Japanese fighters have won this title.
“I’m looking forward to everyone seeing me fight at bantamweight from now on.”
HE DOES IT AGAIN.
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 24, 2024
That man is special, @BoxerJunto 💫 pic.twitter.com/K8RHrCqX61
Nakatani kept it long early, utilizing the jab to keep the shorter man at bay. The right jab connected solidly and the challenger also made good use of the left hand whenever it was open. However, the champion closed well in the second, nailing his man with a pair of big rights.
The lashing straight left of Nakatani opened up a cut over the champ’s right eye in the third. He was still controlling distance and Santiago was struggling to get off as the straight shots kept him honest. The Mexican star was looking to draw counters and score with a big right but opportunities were scarce.
The fifth was Nakatani’s biggest round to that point. Four and five-punch combinations replaced ones and twos, which was bad news for the champion. Still, there was no sign that such a conclusive ending was coming and the finish was absolutely breathtaking.
The 26-year-old Nakatani is something very special and is closing in on a pound-for-pound position. He’s 5-8 with a 69-inch reach, so it’s conceivable that he’ll move through even more divisions.
Santiago drops to 28-6-5 (14 KOs).
Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas fight card
- Takuma Inoue def. Jerwin Ancajas via KO 9 (0:44) for the WBA bantamweight title
- Junto Nakatani def. Alexandro Santiago via TKO 6 (1:12) for the WBC bantamweight title
- Kosei Tanaka def. Christian Bacasegua Rangel via UD 12 (119-108, 117-111, 116-111) for the WBO super flyweight title
- Riku Masuda def. Jonas Sultan via KO 1 (2:21); Bantamweights
