Nakatani to Defend WBC Bantamweight Title Against Astrolabio in Tokyo
On July 20th, undefeated WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani will make the first defense of his title at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The Japanese three-division titlist (27-0, 20 KOs) will face top-ranked challenger Vincent Astrolabio, a Manny Pacquiao-promoted fighter from the Philippines.
Nakatani has been a dominant force in the sport, securing a highlight-reel knockout of Andrew Moloney a year ago, followed by a successful super-flyweight title defense. In February, he captured the bantamweight crown with a sixth-round TKO over Alexander Santiago.
Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs) is coming off an impressive 2022 campaign, which included a knockdown-aided unanimous decision over two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux. However, he later suffered a majority decision loss to then-WBO bantamweight champion Jason Moloney. Astrolabio bounced back with a spectacular 11th-round TKO victory over veteran Navapon Khaikanha of Thailand in an eliminator bout.
“Winning a WBC title is always the biggest and most prestigious accomplishment in the smaller weights.”
- Sean Gibbons, Astrolabio’s manager
According to Astrolabio’s manager, Sean Gibbons, the challenger has learned valuable lessons from his previous title shot and is determined to seize the opportunity against the formidable Nakatani. Gibbons described Astrolabio’s punching power as “caveman-type” and emphasized his fighter’s “heavy, heavy hands,” which he believes could pose a significant threat to the champion.
Gibbons acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that Nakatani is currently considered a “real beast” and a potential future opponent for undisputed super-bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue. However, he remains confident in Astrolabio’s abilities.
The upcoming matchup between Nakatani and Astrolabio promises to be an exciting and hard-hitting affair, as both fighters seek to establish their dominance in the bantamweight division.
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