Mike Coppinger, ESPN
Junto Nakatani scored a sixth-round TKO victory over Alexandro Santiago in Tokyo on Saturday and have become WBC bantamweight champion, his third division title.
Japan’s Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs) knocked out Santiago with a straight left in Round 6. Moments later, a pointy proper hook despatched the Mexican to the canvas once more as Santiago’s nook stopped the one-sided motion at 1 minute, 12 seconds. ,
Nakatani, 26, received each spherical on all three scorecards.
“I’m trying ahead to seeing him struggle at bantamweight any further,” mentioned Nakatani, who trains in Los Angeles.
He entered the struggle ranked No. 4 at 115 kilos by ESPN; This was Nakatani’s first struggle at 118 kilos. And even in one other weight class, Nakatani nonetheless had a substantial benefit in top and attain.
Standing at 5 foot 8 inches with a 67-inch attain, Nakatani was capable of field from the surface, utilizing his energetic southpaw jab to regulate the motion. He hit Santiago with clear left palms from vary and injured the champion round each eyes.
Santiago (28-4-5, 14 KOs) entered the ring coming off a career-best efficiency, a unanimous choice win over future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire in July. That victory gave Santiago his first world title and the No. 4 ESPN rating at bantamweight.
But Santiago was no match for Nakatani. Whenever the 28-year-old Mexican tried to go away, Nakatani landed jabs and uppercuts that disrupted the champion’s assault. Santiago, who’s 5 ft 3 inches tall, accepted a five-inch top achieve.
He had received 4 fights since a majority-decision loss to Gary Antonio Russell in November 2021.
Nakatani is likely one of the quickest rising boxers within the sport. His Twelfth-round knockout victory over Andrew Moloney in May was named ESPN’s KO of the Year. That win noticed Nakatani seize the WBO title at 115 kilos, a belt he efficiently defended through choice towards Argy Cortes in September.
Nakatani additionally received the 112-pound title.
