Skip to content

Junto Nakatani rips through Vincent Astrolabio in round one to defend WBC bantamweight world title

Junto Nakatani wasted no time when he knocked out Vincent Astrolabio with a one-punch body-shot knockout in just their first round; Nakatani defended the WBC bantamweight world title and unification battles or a showdown with Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue could lie ahead for him

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Junto Nakatani barely broke sweat as he knocked out Vincent Astrolabio with a straight left to the body for a first-round stoppage win

Junto Nakatani made a ruthlessly efficient defence of the WBC bantamweight world title on Saturday, stopping challenger Vincent Astrolabio inside the first round.

Japan's Nakatani lived up to his reputation as one of world boxing's most fearsome knockout artists at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

He stepped forward and landed a ferocious cross direct to the body. A shot that was both literally and metaphorically breath-taking as it hit Astrolabio on the belt line but in the target area.

Filipino challenger Vincent Astrolabio, left, gets a punch to be knocked down by Japanese champion Junto Nakatani during the first round of their WBC bantamweight world title boxing match in Tokyo, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Image: Nakatani lands that expert finish

The force of the shot snuffed out Astrolabio's challenge immediately. It sent him reeling away across the ring, where he collapsed to the canvas.

He could not regroup from that one-punch finish, and declined to continue.

"I thought maybe this was going to be a long fight but luckily I got the punch and I am victorious," Nakatani said.

He then asked the crowd: "Do you want me to unify the titles? I'm thinking about unifying the titles in the bantamweight division or I'm thinking about going up weight divisions, let's see."

Also See:

The WBA bantamweight titlist, Takuma Inoue, is on his hitlist. "I think loads of people are expecting this fight. I'll be stronger, I'll get ready," he said.

Takuma's brother, Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue, is lurking just one division above Nakatani at super-bantamweight where he is the undisputed world champion.

"I will take one step at a time but I know in one of the weight divisions there's the 'Monster' waiting. So let's see what happens," Nakatani said.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A big knockout from Anthony Olascuaga upsets Riku Kano as he wins the  WBO flyweight world title with a third-round victory

On the undercard, Anthony Olascuaga, Nakatani's gym-mate, upset Riku Kano with a big knockout of his own in the third round to win the WBO flyweight world title.

Olascuaga looked dangerous early on but, just as the contest was beginning to settle down, the American launched himself forward, angling up a left hook as Kano ducked down.

The fierce shot caught Kano cleanly and dropped him heavily to the canvas.

The home fighter could not beat the count and Olascuaga claimed the vacant championship.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Tenshin Nasukawa shows pure dominance as he sends Jonathan Rodriguez flying into the ropes for a third-round TKO victory

Tenshin Nasukawa, a kickboxing superstar in Japan, continued his professional boxing career with a three-round win against Jonathan Rodriguez

He badly stunned Rodriguez with backhand left at the end of the second round and fired in a volley of unanswered punches after that.

Nasukawa continued to land vicious lefts in the third round and blasted Rodriguez off his feet, ending their scheduled 10 rounder in the third.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Issei Aramoto wins in style, with a sixth-round KO of Mongontsooj Nandinerdene

Making his pro debut, Japanese middleweight Issei Aramoto also won by knockout, eventually hacking down Mongontsooj Nandinerdene with a left hook to the chin in their sixth and final round.

Around Sky