There was a lot that happened in boxing last weekend (and in Norfolk, what 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 happen), from a heavyweight comeback (Fabio Wardley-Justis Hunni) to continued dominance from a cruiserweight (Jai Opetaia) and in Japan, the latest unified champion was crowned. At the Ariake Colosseum in Japan, Junto Nakatani stopped Ryosuke Nishida in six rounds.
'Big Bang' Nakatani is now the WBC and IBF belt holder, in addition to becoming the Ring Magazine champion. Just as importantly, he took another step to the highly anticipated all-Japanese showdown versus Naoya Inoue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-VdUOTk9HQ
It was a largely dominant performance that saw Nakatani's overwhelming offensive onslaught take over the fight after some early back-and-forthing. Nishida was game early on, but was overpowered, and eventually his right eye blew up from the repeated left hands from his fellow southpaw.
Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank
But did he get a passing grade from his hard-to-please trainer, Rudy Hernandez?
"Yes," said Hernandez, who arrived back in the States on Monday afternoon. "We did what our plan was and it worked."
Nakatani got touched up a bit in the first two rounds, but he just kept coming with his wide variety of punches that are delivered with maximum leverage and force. It's almost machine-line the way he executes his attack. What he practices in the gym, is what he replicates in live combat. Hernandez has constantly drilled this into him to a point where it has become second nature.
Hernandez is the rare trainer who does not work the pads with his fighters. For him, it's a simple, tried-and-true formula: shadow boxing, the heavy bag and sparring, done with concentration and focus on execution. Nakatani has developed into an offensive force.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_czsY3rQNyc
Given Nakatani's age (27) and his 5'7 frame, there is some question on how long Nakatani can continue to box as a bantamweight. But Hernandez told SNAC.com, "We didn't have problems making 118 this time. He was 116.5 the night before the weigh-in. So there was no trouble making weight. The only thing is we're looking for bigger and better things, so if that means moving up to 122, that's what he's going to do. He has the size and everything. He's a very disciplined fighter. He can go from 118 to 126. That's my opinion."
Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank
The 'Monster' in the room is Inoue, but currently he is scheduled to face 'MJ' Akhmadaliev in September, and then there is talk of him fighting in Saudi Arabia in December. The Inoue-Nakatanis showdown has seemingly been slated for next May in Japan, most likely at the Tokyo Dome. It's being described as the biggest fight in Japanese history.
So in the meantime, what does Nakatani do? Is there any chance of further unifying, or going undisputed at bantamweight? Hernandez has even spoken of going up to featherweight and facing WBO titlist, Rafael Espinoza.
"I would just rather fight," said Hernandez, who also works with WBO flyweight champion, Anthony Olascuaga. "If we can get them (the unification contests) we can get them. If not, we keep moving. I don't feel like we should be waiting around or hoping. Whatever the promoters say, that's what we're doing."
For Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) this was his second fight in 2025, and his third since last October. Hernandez, who is as old-school as old-school gets, absolutely believes that activity matters.
"The problem with today's society and the way boxing is today, they don't fight often. But if it were up to me I'd have him fighting next month because there's no damage to his body, there's nothing. There's no reason why he should just hang out. Again, these guys don't fight as often as they used to," said Hernandez, a former boxer himself.
Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank
But at the same time, he understands modern day boxing business.
"I think one more is realistic because again, things have changed. Boxing has changed. So have the promoters and how they see things,'' said Hernandez.
Years ago, Hernandez -- whose brother, Genaro, was a two-time world champion (and makes a good case for the International Boxing Hall-of-Fame) that told this scribe that Nakatani was the best boxer he ever had. Back then he was just a guy who had won a belt. Now as you fast forward several years, he's a multi-division champion who is now on pound-for-pounds lists (seventh by Ring).
Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank
Nakatani is now considered a viable threat to Inoue. He could be a fighter now at his physical and technical apex, while maintaining his humble and modest nature.
"I think right now he's there,'' opined Hernandez. "And again, he's a hard working fighter who comes to the gym to work never feeling special."
3KR
This week on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule', Mario Lopez and I discuss the buzzkill in Norfolk, along with everything else in the game of boxing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n33UCWZi7L0&t=1s
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