Vincent Astrolabio looks to dethrone Junto Nakatani in enemy territory when he challenges for the WBC bantamweight title in Japan on July 20. The fight airs on ESPN+ in the U.S.
Nakatani (27-0) is a highly skilled and powerful three-division champion. The 26-year-old landed the 2023 Knockout of the Year against Andrew Moloney to win the WBO super flyweight title and is coming off a TKO win over Alexandro Santiago in February, which saw him claim the WBC 135-pound belt.
Astrolabio (19-4) is 2-1 in his last three fights. The Filipino fighter failed to capture the WBO bantamweight title from Jason Moloney in May 2023 but rebounded a few months later against Navapon Khaikanha.
Nakatani is looking for unification fights or a contest against pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue, but Astrolabio is ready to play spoiler and fly bantamweight gold out of Japan.
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. Vincent Astrolabio, exclusively on ESPN+
“We know Nakatani is considered a real beast right now and a possible opponent for Inoue next year,” manager Sean Gibbons told Boxing Scene . “Imagine if we whack the guy and look tremendous… plus, winning a WBC title is always the biggest and most prestigious accomplishment in the smaller weight. Vincent comes with a winning mentality and that’s half the battle.”
On the undercard, multiple titles are on the line while a kickboxing phenom continues his early rise in boxing.
Junto Nakatani vs. Vincent Astrolabio undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Nakatani vs. Astrolabio card.
Kosei Tanaka vs. Jonathan Rodriguez
- Division/Weight : Super Flyweight
- Tanaka record : 20-1
- Rodriguez record : 25-2-1
- Belts at stake : WBO
The co-feature will see Kosei Tanaka defend the WBO super flyweight title against Jonathan Rodriguez .
Tanaka (20-1) is a four-weight world champion, having held gold from 105 to 115 pounds. Japan’s third-ever four-division champion is on a five-fight win streak and defeated Christian Bacasegua for the WBO title in February.
Rodriguez (25-2-1) has gone 3-0-1 in his last four fights since failing to capture the IBF super flyweight title in 2021. He looks to collect gold in his second attempt.
MORE: Boxing's top five pound-for-pound fighters from Japan
Riku Kano vs. Anthony Olascuaga
- Division/Weight : Flyweight
- Kano record : 22-4-2
- Olascuaga record : 6-1
- Belts at stake : WBO
Riku Kano and Anthony Olascuaga compete for the vacant WBO flyweight title.
Kano (22-4-2) has moved from minimumweight, light flyweight, and flyweight in his quest for a title. This will be his second attempt at gold, as he lost against Katsunari Takayama in 2016 for the WBO minimumweight belt. The 26-year-old is on a 10-fight unbeaten streak and went 3-0 in 2023.
Reaching a new multi-year deal with All Star Boxing Promotions, Olascuaga (6-1) is unbeaten at flyweight. He competed in a short-notice fight in April 2023, losing against Kenshiro Teraji for light flyweight gold.
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Jonathan Rodriguez
- Division/Weight : Bantamweight
- Nasukawa record : 3-0
- Rodriguez record : 17-2-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Tenshin Nasukawa faces Jonathan Rodriguez .
With 44 wins and zero losses in kickboxing, Nasukawa (3-0) is a former RISE 55 kg and RISE 57.5 kg champion. He is best known to boxing fans for his humiliating first-round defeat to Floyd Mayweather in a 2018 exhibition match. However, Nasukawa has looked impressive since turning pro in April 2023, winning his last fight via TKO in February.
Rodriguez (17-2-1) had a 10-fight unbeaten streak snapped by Antonio Vargas in February despite Vargas being deducted two points.
MORE: Who is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world?
Junto Nakatani vs. Vincent Astrolabio tune-in info
- Date : Saturday, July 20
- Time : 4 a.m. ET | 1 a.m. PT
- Location : Ryogoku Kokugikan — Tokyo
- How to watch:
- U.S.: ESPN+
- U.K.: Sky Sports
- Canada: TSN+
- Australia : Kayo
Fight fans in the U.S. can watch Nakatani vs. Astrolabio on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $10.99 on a monthly subscription and $109.99 on an annual subscription.
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