Boxing’s bantamweight division is stacked, with all the champions from Japan. Junto Nakatani , the WBC bantamweight champ, looks to keep a firm grip on the division and beat the best at 118.
A three-division champion, Nakatani defends his WBC title against Vincent Astrolabio on July 20 in Tokyo. The fight airs on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Nakatani is undefeated, with 27 wins via knockout. The fight against Astrolabio is his first defense of the WBC bantamweight title after beating Alexandro Santiago for it in February. The champion will be wary of Astrolabio’s skills but believes his will be enough to walk out of the ring as champion.
“While my opponent is a hard puncher, I will fight at a distance of mine and want to knock him out,” Nakatani said via 3 Kings Boxing .
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. Vincent Astrolabio, exclusively on ESPN+
Here’s all you need to know about Astrolabio, looking to follow in his mentor’s footsteps.
Who is Vincent Astrolabio?
Born in the Philippines, Astrolabio has a 19-4 record with 14 wins via knockout.
The 27-year-old is the protege of boxing great Manny Pacquiao and is trained by former Paquiao trainer Nonoy Neri.
"We are always ready, and we are training. We are not going to waste this opportunity. We hope to win this fight for Filipinos," Neri told GMA News Online about the Nakatani fight.
Astrolabio beat two-time Olympic gold medalist and former unified super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2022 in what was the best win in his young career to date. “Asero” knocked him down in the eighth round and earned a unanimous decision win.
A six-fight win streak ended at the hands of Jason Moloney in May 2023 for the WBO bantamweight title, his first crack at gold. Astrolabio rebounded with a vicious TKO win against Navapon Khaikanha almost a year ago, in August 2023, to secure another title shot.
Most Popular
Comments / 0