Latest news with #JuntoNakatani
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Nakatani, a rising star in the golden age of Japanese boxing, is determined to knock out Inoue
One is known as 'The Monster,' the other 'Big Bang.' The bout between champion boxers Naoya Inoue (30-0-0, 27 KOs) and Junto Nakatani (31-0-0, 24 KOs) is already being billed as Japan's 'fight of the century.' And the date hasn't even been set. Sports pundits are hailing what's happening these days as the golden age of Japanese boxing. And this is a nation that has produced its share of Hall of Famers. For a period last year, all four division bantamweight champions were Japanese. The Ring magazine's latest Top Ten pound-for-pound ranking has three Japanese fighters, including Inoue and Nakatani. Both Nakatani and Inoue have at least one fight before their dream match. But no one is expecting either of them to lose. 'That's the way boxing works. Inoue has a story, and I have a story. When these stories clash, people are moved and gain courage. That's where it is fun,' Nakatani said in an interview with The Associated Press at M.T Boxing Gym southwest of Tokyo. 'For me, boxing is what you show in the ring all that you worked for and built every day. It's a place where you express the life you have lived,' he said. Nakatani smiles often, exuding a kindness that strikes a contrast to his almost scientific brutality in the ring. If you ever get angry, you will lose, he said. One must keep control, as boxing is a contest of minds and strategies, doing exactly what your opponent does not want you to do. Earlier this year, Inoue, the first Japanese fighter to be No. 1 in the pound-for-pound rankings, which evaluates boxers taking their weight and size into account, defended his super bantamweight title against Ramon Cardenas at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Inoue gave his fans a fright by getting knocked down in the second round but came back to soundly stop the fight in the eighth. It was Inoue's second fight in Las Vegas, with his debut coming four years ago in a seventh-round knockout of Australian Jason Moloney. Inoue, one of only three male boxers in the four-belt era to unify at two weight classes, is scheduled for a September showdown in Tokyo against Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan. Nakatani's next opponent isn't decided yet. But speculation is rife it might be Cardenas, allowing fans to analyze how Nakatani fares compared to Inoue. The buzz is spreading to a fan base previously not associated with boxing in Japan, like women and children. These are fighters who draw long lines for their T-shirts and other merchandising, inspire manga, or Japanese comics, and pop up on hair product ads. Boxing fever was hot with the packed crowd of 10,000 at the Ariake Coliseum for the WBC and IBF bantamweight unification title match between Nakatani and Ryosuke Nishida last month. People are still talking about the fight, in which Nakatani came on fierce from the first round. Nishida's eye became swollen, his shoulder was dislocated, and the fight was stopped after the sixth round. Nakatani said he won't be taking the same strategy against Inoue. The strategy was carefully planned with his Mexican American trainer Rudy Hernandez especially for Nishida. 'He is an athlete who has everything. He has outstanding boxing skills and so he is hard to beat. But even then, there are possibilities,' Nakatani said of Inoue, vowing to beat him by knockout. Inoue, who was at ringside to witness Nakatani's win, said afterward in a tweet: 'Welcome to the super bantamweight battle front. Can't help but get excited when there's a Japanese this good.' Both Nakatani and Inoue started out learning karate as children. Nakatani's father sent him to karate school when he was in third grade because he was always playing video games. He later switched to boxing, where he fared better because of the weight classes. He stopped playing games. Nakatani's walkout music is a defiant rendition by aging rocker Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, vowing to give up a smug existence and instead be brave and selfless like the World War II kamikaze pilots. Nakatani said he chose that song to express gratitude to past generations, who sacrificed so much to give his generation peace. It happens to be one of his dad's favorite songs. Nakatani is taking it a step at a time. But he is already thinking about the legacy he will leave behind. 'When the time comes for me to retire, I want to end my career as the kind of boxer whom everybody loves,' he said. ___
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Nakatani, a rising star in the golden age of Japanese boxing, is determined to knock out Inoue
SAGAMIHARA, Japan (AP) — One is known as 'The Monster,' the other 'Big Bang.' The bout between champion boxers Naoya Inoue (30-0-0, 27 KOs) and Junto Nakatani (31-0-0, 24 KOs) is already being billed as Japan's 'fight of the century.' And the date hasn't even been set. Sports pundits are hailing what's happening these days as the golden age of Japanese boxing. And this is a nation that has produced its share of Hall of Famers. For a period last year, all four division bantamweight champions were Japanese. The Ring magazine's latest Top Ten pound-for-pound ranking has three Japanese fighters, including Inoue and Nakatani. Both Nakatani and Inoue have at least one fight before their dream match. But no one is expecting either of them to lose. 'That's the way boxing works. Inoue has a story, and I have a story. When these stories clash, people are moved and gain courage. That's where it is fun,' Nakatani said in an interview with The Associated Press at M.T Boxing Gym southwest of Tokyo. 'For me, boxing is what you show in the ring all that you worked for and built every day. It's a place where you express the life you have lived,' he said. Nakatani smiles often, exuding a kindness that strikes a contrast to his almost scientific brutality in the ring. If you ever get angry, you will lose, he said. One must keep control, as boxing is a contest of minds and strategies, doing exactly what your opponent does not want you to do. Earlier this year, Inoue, the first Japanese fighter to be No. 1 in the pound-for-pound rankings, which evaluates boxers taking their weight and size into account, defended his super bantamweight title against Ramon Cardenas at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Inoue gave his fans a fright by getting knocked down in the second round but came back to soundly stop the fight in the eighth. It was Inoue's second fight in Las Vegas, with his debut coming four years ago in a seventh-round knockout of Australian Jason Moloney. Inoue, one of only three male boxers in the four-belt era to unify at two weight classes, is scheduled for a September showdown in Tokyo against Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan. Nakatani's next opponent isn't decided yet. But speculation is rife it might be Cardenas, allowing fans to analyze how Nakatani fares compared to Inoue. The buzz is spreading to a fan base previously not associated with boxing in Japan, like women and children. These are fighters who draw long lines for their T-shirts and other merchandising, inspire manga, or Japanese comics, and pop up on hair product ads. Boxing fever was hot with the packed crowd of 10,000 at the Ariake Coliseum for the WBC and IBF bantamweight unification title match between Nakatani and Ryosuke Nishida last month. People are still talking about the fight, in which Nakatani came on fierce from the first round. Nishida's eye became swollen, his shoulder was dislocated, and the fight was stopped after the sixth round. Nakatani said he won't be taking the same strategy against Inoue. The strategy was carefully planned with his Mexican American trainer Rudy Hernandez especially for Nishida. 'He is an athlete who has everything. He has outstanding boxing skills and so he is hard to beat. But even then, there are possibilities,' Nakatani said of Inoue, vowing to beat him by knockout. Inoue, who was at ringside to witness Nakatani's win, said afterward in a tweet: 'Welcome to the super bantamweight battle front. Can't help but get excited when there's a Japanese this good.' Both Nakatani and Inoue started out learning karate as children. Nakatani's father sent him to karate school when he was in third grade because he was always playing video games. He later switched to boxing, where he fared better because of the weight classes. He stopped playing games. Nakatani's walkout music is a defiant rendition by aging rocker Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi, vowing to give up a smug existence and instead be brave and selfless like the World War II kamikaze pilots. Nakatani said he chose that song to express gratitude to past generations, who sacrificed so much to give his generation peace. It happens to be one of his dad's favorite songs. Nakatani is taking it a step at a time. But he is already thinking about the legacy he will leave behind. 'When the time comes for me to retire, I want to end my career as the kind of boxer whom everybody loves,' he said. ___ Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WNBA Commissioner's Cup on Hulu + Live TV: How to Watch Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty Live Online
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. With the WNBA Commissioner's Cup in full swing, the league pits conference rivals against each throughout the month of June in an in-season tournament to see which teams will make make it to the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Final on Tuesday, July 1. More from Variety Disney Closes Hulu Deal With Comcast, Paying Billions Less Than NBCU Was Seeking NBA Finals 2025 Livestream: How to Watch Game 2 Online Without Cable for Free Junto Nakatani vs. Ryosuke Nishida Livestream: How to Watch Top Rank Boxing Event Online For the second week of the tournament, Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky face off against Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, June 10. The WNBA game tips off at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ESPN. watch Sky vs. Liberty Online with Hulu + Live TV Looking to watch the WNBA Commissioner's Cup game online? Hulu + Live TV includes ESPN, which means you'll be able to livestream the game. It also includes ESPN2, ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network and other networks for even more WNBA action. Additionally, the streaming service has a 3-day free trial, while Hulu + Live TV starts at $82.99/month. With the streaming service, you'll get access to all of Hulu's award-winning original shows, thousands of movies on-demand and access to both Disney+ and ESPN+ through its bundled package. Meanwhile, Hulu + Live TV's built-in live guide makes it easy to find ESPN in your lineup, and add-ons like extra screens and enhanced DVR let you record the entire season if you'd rather watch at your own pace. It's a seamless way to keep up with the tournament as it progresses — and with competitors this sharp, you'll want to see every clue as it's revealed. WNBA Commissioner's Cup 2025: The Chicago Sky vs. New York Liberty game broadcasts on ESPN via Hulu + Live TV with tipoff at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. watch Sky vs. Liberty Online with Hulu + Live TV Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? 25 Hollywood Legends Who Deserve an Honorary Oscar New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Japan Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Junto Nakatani remains on collision course with Naoya Inoue after latest win
When Junto Nakatani stepped into the ring to face Ryosuke Nishida with each man's bantamweight world title hanging in the balance, he also had to contend with an unseen force whose presence was felt almost as heavily as the punches the boxers traded for six rounds. Naoya Inoue was not in the ring at Ariake Coliseum on Sunday night — although he was in the front row watching from behind a pair of sunglasses — but he might as well have been. The specter of the 'Monster' clings to Nakatani these days, lurking behind every corner and lingering over every sparring session, every fight and every meeting with the media. Nakatani does not only carry the weight of world titles on his shoulders but also the pressure to hold up his end of the bargain on the road to a blockbuster showdown against Inoue that looms larger each time one of them steps in the ring. Nakatani took another step toward what could be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history by defeating Nishida via sixth-round TKO in an entertaining bout that saw him successfully defend his WBC bantamweight world title and take the IBF belt off Nishida to unify the title. After it was over, Nakatani, who improved to 31-0 with 24 knockouts, had a message for Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight champion. 'I'll be there soon, so please wait for me,' said a smiling Nakatani, who would have to move to a higher weight class to face Inoue. Inoue responded later Sunday night. 'Welcome to the super bantamweight division,' he wrote on his X account. 'I would be excited to see such a strong Japanese fighter.' Junto Nakatani punches Ryosuke Nishida during the second round of their title fight. | JIJI There is still a long way to go and hurdles to clear before the superstars can meet — both say a fight could happen in May 2026 — but Nakatani cleared a potentially tricky hurdle with his victory over the previously unbeaten Nishida. Nakatani and Nishida (10-1) went at each other from the opening bell as the crowd roared in approval. Nakatani said later his strategy was to surprise Nishida by closing the distance between them and taking the fight to him early. 'We decided as a team to try and inflict damage on him from the first round,' Nakatani said. Nakatani is known as 'Big Bang,' and true to his name he landed some big blows early with sweeping overhand lefts and uppercuts. Nishida, though, was up for the fight and found success with some counterpunches. 'We're exceptionally proud of his fighting spirit and the skills he exhibited last night against a truly elite operator in this era,' Mike Altamura told The Japan Times. Altamura is a well-respected boxing manager and adviser who has brought many international fighters to Japan and sometimes works with Muto Boxing Gym, which serves as Nishida's base. Nakatani's fusillade of heavy punches caused Nishida's right eye to swell early, and the WBC champion started to focus his attacks there. During the fifth round, the ringside doctor examined Nishida's eye, which was heavily swollen by that point. The fight did not last much longer, as Nishida also suffered a dislocated shoulder and could not continue after the sixth round. Inoue watched it all unfold from his ringside seat. 'I knew he was in the crowd,' Nakatani said. 'It's important to take one fight at a time, and if I perform well, the expectations for bigger fights will grow. I want to do my best.' Naoya Inoue walks to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Cubs and Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 18. | Imagn Images / VIA REUTERS A potential showdown between Inoue, No. 2 in Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound rankings, and Nakatani, who is No. 7, is one of the most highly anticipated fights on the horizon. Inoue is 30-0 with 27 KOs and has left a trail of destruction and battered boxers in his wake. He is the complete package of skills, brains and overwhelming power. No one has been able to stand against him, and only three of his fights have gone the distance. Some think Nakatani can be the man who finally slays the 'Monster.' The left-handed knockout artist has 24 KOs on his resume, including his win over Nishida. He is a three-weight champion and has defended his WBC belt four times since winning it in February 2024. 'Nakatani is an outstanding talent,' Altamura said. 'He has evolved and developed so many layers to his fighting craft throughout the years. He's a fast, smooth boxing technician but also possesses a savage streak and an adaptability to change tempos and commit to taking educated risks if he senses potential openings in opponents. 'I think the Inoue-Nakatani contest has to be considered one of the best current showdowns in world boxing, and it's challenging to think of a more high-stakes all-Japanese contest in history.' Rather than shy away from talk of a potential bout against Inoue, Nakatani has embraced it. Noting the way Inoue thundered back after being knocked down for the first time in his career by Luis Nery in May 2024 and then by Ramon Cardenas last month, Nakatani told Ring Magazine that if he knocks down Inoue, 'I have to make sure that he doesn't get back up.' Nakatani also agreed with his trainer that it would be better to fight Inoue sooner than later, while the superstar boxer is still at the height of his powers, and Nakatani could receive full credit for beating him. Inoue, by far the more high-profile fighter in terms of star power, also has Nakatani in his sights. "If we can come through this year strongly, I believe it will be the most exciting bout between Japanese in the country's boxing history," Inoue said during an awards ceremony both attended in March, according to Kyodo News. Fans can only hope both fighters keep winning until they inevitably meet. 'Nakatani took some risks early last night that I couldn't imagine him taking offensively against Inoue,' Altamura said. 'I perceive that fight may be highly technical, watchful in the initial stages as both men figure out the potential openings and adapt to one another's movements. "But both combatants possess very offensive-minded mentalities, and there will be fireworks eventually. Inoue, I feel, adjusts exceptionally well to each opponent. He figures out the punch selection and range which suits his artillery, then gradually will increase his punching output and intent. Inoue is the heavier handed between the two, and so Nakatani will need to be tactically aware to not stand too long in exchanges. "Currently, I favor Inoue, though I am genuinely curious to see how Nakatani may potentially level up and make tactical defensive adjustments against somebody as strong and technically adept as Inoue. It's a mouthwatering contest, truly.'
BBC News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Opetaia beats Squeo to retain IBF cruiserweight title
Jai Opetaia produced a fifth-round stoppage to beat Claudio Squeo and retain his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world Australian dominated the bout on the Gold Coast and landed a firm uppercut in the third round before connecting with some damaging 29, then floored Italian Squeo in the fourth round with a punishing shot to the was delivered in the next round after a fierce right hook to the jaw forced Squeo to hunch over and take a knee as the home favourite extended his unbeaten run to 28 the bout, Opetaia once again voiced his desire for a unification bout with Mexico's WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez."We did what we had to do," said Opetaia. "I'm chasing this unification fight and it's frustrating."Gilberto Ramirez - next fight, let's get it on. I'm chasing the belts. The fight is easy to be made. Let's do it."Meanwhile, Japan's Junto Nakatani overcame compatriot Ryosuke Nishida, who retired with an eye injury in Tokyo, to add the IBF bantamweight title to his WBC remains the number one fighter in the division after firing several punches towards the right eye of Nishida, which prompted an inspection from the ringside doctor after the sixth for the three-weight world champion extends his unbeaten record to 31 wins, including 24 Japanese rival, Naoya Inoue, was watching on from the stands and could be in line for a highly anticipated meeting with the 27-year-old next year.A bout between Nakatani and the unbeaten Inoue, who has 27 knockouts in 30 wins, would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.
