Junto Nakatani is gearing up for the second defense of his WBC 118-pound title against Petch Sor Chitpattana on October 14, part of a two-day Tokyo card featuring seven title fights. But bigger plans may be on the horizon for Nakatani if he can remain undefeated.
Top Rank, Nakatani’s co-promoter, is aiming to set up a super fight between him and Naoya Inoue in Japan, possibly at the Tokyo Dome. The idea is for Nakatani to first face Naoya’s younger brother, Takuma Inoue, a former bantamweight champion, before moving on to the elder, more dominant Naoya.
Nakatani is on board with the plan, stating, “If there is a chance, I will fight Takuma first, then Naoya.” He acknowledges that a showdown with Naoya Inoue could be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. Nakatani praised Inoue’s knockout of TJ Doheny and is determined to make that super fight happen.
At 26, Nakatani is still in his prime and hopes to unify the 118-pound division before moving up to 122 pounds, where a fight with Naoya Inoue would become a reality. His ambitions don't stop there—Nakatani aims to become a six-division champion, with his sights set on titles at 122, 126, and 130 pounds. He even mentioned being open to a fight with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez if the opportunity arises.
For now, though, Nakatani must stay focused on his upcoming opponent, Sor Chitpattana, a strong contender from Thailand with only one professional loss, ironically against Takuma Inoue. Nakatani is confident, saying, “I feel stronger at 118 pounds since I don't have to cut the extra weight. My speed helps trigger knockouts.”
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