Nakatani Defeats Nishida – 6th Round Stoppage
- Tokyo, Japan – Junto Nakatani solidified his position in the bantamweight division Sunday after Ryosuke Nishida retired due to an eye injury.
- Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs), already the WBC champion, added Nishida's IBF title to his collection.
- Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs), the undisputed world junior featherweight champion and a potential future opponent for Nakatani, watched the fight from ringside.
Junto Nakatani decisively claimed the bantamweight crown after Ryosuke Nishida retired due to an eye injury in their highly anticipated unification bout. Nakatani’s relentless attack and precise punches led to a stoppage before Round 7, adding Nishida’s IBF title to his WBC belt. This victory not only solidifies Nakatani’s dominance but also ignites discussions about a potential megafight against pound-for-pound contender Naoya Inoue. The action-packed contest saw Nakatani dominate, targeting Nishida’s injured eye with strategic left hands throughout the later rounds. For boxing fans seeking the latest updates and thorough fight coverage, including analyses of Nakatani’s future in the junior featherweight division, News Directory 3 provides top-tier sports reporting. Discover what’s next for Nakatani as he considers his options.
Nakatani Claims Bantamweight Crown After Nishida’s Injury
Updated June 8, 2025
Tokyo, Japan – Junto Nakatani solidified his position in the bantamweight division Sunday after Ryosuke Nishida retired due to an eye injury. The ringside doctor stopped the world title unification bout before Round 7 at Ariake Colosseum.
Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs), already the WBC champion, added Nishida’s IBF title to his collection. the accuracy of Nakatani’s punches caused Nishida’s right eye to swell shut, leading to the stoppage.
Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs), the undisputed world junior featherweight champion and a potential future opponent for Nakatani, watched the fight from ringside. Inoue is ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound by ESPN.
The 27-year-old Nakatani,a three-weight world champion from Kanagawa,Japan,is considering a move to junior featherweight or another bantamweight title unification fight. Antonio Vargas (WBA) and Yoshiki Takei (WBO) currently hold the other bantamweight belts.
A potential megafight between Nakatani and Inoue is generating considerable buzz. Nakatani is ranked No. 9 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, and a victory over Inoue would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. Nishida (10-1, 2 kos), 28, proved a worthy opponent, contributing to an exciting, fast-paced fight.
Nakatani, who trains in Los angeles with Rudy Hernandez, has won all five of his bantamweight fights by stoppage. He launched an aggressive attack from the opening bell.
Both fighters exchanged blows early, but nakatani landed the better shots, including a powerful overhand left and a series of uppercuts in Round 2. nishida found success targeting the body in the third and fourth rounds. However, Nishida’s right eye began to swell in Round 5, and by the end of Round 6, it was nearly closed.Nakatani relentlessly targeted the injured eye with stinging left hands.
On the same card, Riku Masuda (8-1, 8 KOs) knocked out Michell Banquez (Venezuela) in the first round with a southpaw combination.
What’s next
Nakatani will likely have an interim fight before any potential clash with Inoue. He will also consider his options at junior featherweight.