Junto Nakatani to Headline Tokyo Tripleheader Against Vincent Astrolabio on July 20th ESPN

The Japanese Golden Era continues as WBC bantamweight world champion Junto Nakatani prepares to defend his title against Filipino contender Vincent Astrolabio on Saturday, July 20, at the iconic Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

Nakatani, a three-weight world champion and reigning WBC bantamweight titlist, will headline a spectacular tripleheader, facing his mandatory challenger Astrolabio. The event promises to deliver thrilling action as part of Japan’s ongoing boxing renaissance.

In addition to Nakatani's bout, the event features two more world title fights. Four-weight world champion Kosei Tanaka will defend his WBO junior bantamweight title against Jonathan Rodriguez. Meanwhile, former world title challengers Riku Kano and Anthony Olascuaga will contest the vacant WBO flyweight title.

The card also includes a special attraction featuring popular bantamweight Tenshin Nasukawa, who will continue his development against another fighter named Jonathan Rodriguez in a scheduled 10-round bout.

The three world title fights and the Nasukawa-Rodriguez special feature will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the early morning hours in the U.S.

Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs), ranked No. 1 at bantamweight and No. 10 pound-for-pound by The Ring, has steadily climbed the ranks with impressive victories. He overcame early obstacles, including a win over future junior flyweight titleholder Masamichi Yabuki and flyweight contender Seigo Yuri Akui. His progress was temporarily halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he rebounded to capture the vacant WBO title against Giemel Magramo and made successful defenses, including a notable stoppage of former titleholder Angel Acosta.

Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs), rated No. 7 by The Ring at bantamweight, has shown resilience throughout his career. After an early unbeaten streak, he faced setbacks but revived his career with significant wins, including a victory over Guillermo Rigondeaux. His recent triumph against Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai earned him the shot at Nakatani's title.

In another exciting matchup, Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs), ranked No. 3 by The Ring at junior bantamweight, will defend his WBO junior bantamweight title. Tanaka, a four-weight world champion, has an impressive resume, including wins over Sho Kimura and Jonathan Gonzalez. His opponent, Jonathan Rodriguez (25-2-1, 17 KOs), ranked No. 9 by The Ring, has a track record of notable victories and a reputation for being a tough contender.

The fight for the vacant WBO flyweight title between Riku Kano (22-4-2, 11 KOs) and Anthony Olascuaga (6-1, 4 KOs) adds further excitement to the card. Kano, a seasoned fighter with international experience, and Olascuaga, a rising star, promise a thrilling battle for the championship.

Finally, Tenshin Nasukawa (3-0, 1 KO), a former kickboxing world champion, continues his transition to boxing. Known for his undefeated record in kickboxing and a high-profile exhibition against Floyd Mayweather, Nasukawa is quickly making a name for himself in the boxing world.

This event is a must-watch for boxing fans, showcasing some of the sport’s brightest talents and promising an unforgettable night of world-class boxing.