Junto Nakatani (proper) and Vincent Astrolabio pose with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman forward of their July 20 bantamweight title struggle in Tokyo. Picture credit score: Naoki Fukuda
5 of the six title struggle contributors did their job on the scales.
Junto Nakatani is about for the primary protection of his WBC bantamweight title. The 26-year-old southpaw was 117 ¼ kilos, whereas necessary challenger Vincent Astrolabio was 117 ½ kilos.
Their scheduled 12-round bout headlines a title struggle tripleheader Saturday from the famed Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Nakatani (27-0, 20 knockouts) is The Ring’s No. 1-rated bantamweight and No. 10 pound-for-pound fighter. He turned a three-division titlist after a sixth-round knockout of Alexandro Santiago (28-4-5, 14 KOs) on Feb. 24 at this very venue.
Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs) makes his second try at a significant belt. The 27-year-old from Normal Santos Metropolis, Philippines fell simply brief versus Jason Moloney (27-3, 19 KOs) final Could in Stockton, California. He re-entered the combo with an 11th spherical stoppage of Nawaphon Khaikanha (60-4-1, 50 KOs) final Aug. 26 in Bangkok. Their bout was a WBC title eliminator, which made Astrolabio the necessary challenger to Nakatani’s belt.
Jonathan Rodriguez’s hope for a second title shot ended at Friday’s weigh-in.
His bout versus WBO 115-pound titlist Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) will nonetheless transfer ahead. Rodriguez (25-2-1, 17 KOs), No. 9 at 115, failed spectacularly to make weight. The 29-year-old from San Luis Potosi was a large 121 ¾ kilos, practically seven kilos above the restrict.
Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) was 114.9 kilos on the primary attempt. The 29-year-old from Nagoya turned a four-division titlist in a 12-round win over Christian Bacasegua. Their bout passed off on the Feb. 24 Nakatani-Santiago card. Tanaka, No. 4 at 115, additionally gained belts at strawweight, junior flyweight and flyweight.
Riku Kano and Anthony Olascuaga had been each below the 112-pound flyweight restrict for his or her vacant WBO title struggle.
Hyogo’s Kano (22-4-2, 11 KOs) was 111 ¾ kilos forward of his first profession title bid. The 26-year-old southpaw is unbeaten in his final ten begins to make it thus far.
Olascuaga (6-1, 4 KOs) goals to win his first belt in his second title struggle. The 25-year-old from Los Angeles was 111 ¼ kilos for the event.
His earlier try got here in a ninth-round knockout to then Ring/WBC/WBA 108-pound champ Kenshiro Teraji (23-1, 14 KOs) final April 8. Olascuaga took the bout on barely one week’s discover. He rebound with a seventh-round knockout of Giemel Magramo final Sept. 23. Each fights passed off at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo.
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) beforehand held the WBO 115-pound title. He vacated that belt and the IBF title to maneuver again as much as 115, the place he’s the Ring/WBC champ.
All three title bouts will air reside on ESPN+, starting at 5:00 a.m. ET/2:00 a.m. PT.
