WORLD BEAT
Akopyan offered Nakatani his own copy, but the humble “cover star” gave it back to him with his autograph, which included his new nickname, “BIG BANG.” (He said it was the first “Big Bang” version of his autograph penned in America, adding that Manouk’s kind generosity earned it.) His original nickname, “Ai No Ken Shi” (which roughly translates to
sparring in his hometown of Sagamihara and Los Angeles. And the team makes every round count. Mentor and coach Rudy Hernandez and assistant trainer Daisuke Okabe provide their fighter with creative ways to bother, confuse and overwhelm his opponents. “I’ve never gotten bored,” said
against David Cuellar, the theme is what to do in order to break down and finish a bigger opponent. We prepare for it in the gym, practicing detailed techniques, tricks and moves to make them part of me, and I cannot wait to execute them all in the fight.” That’s the formula for the tall (5-
foot-8) and rangy boxer- puncher, who is both calm and vicious in the ring. Nakatani, who has held world titles at 112, 115 and 118 pounds, sees the benefit in gradually moving up in weight. “The fact is that my fights no longer left my muscles sore after I moved up to bantamweight,” he said. “I don’t need extra strain to hit hard at this weight. When I was making the lower weights, I had no choice but to cut down muscle mass somewhat during
“a boxer of love”), was given to him more than 10 years ago by one of his old supporters due to the fighter’s lovable personality. Nakatani liked it but was in search of a new ring moniker for the start of 2025. Last year was a banner year for Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs), who took home The Ring’s 2023 KO of the Year award, entered the magazine’s pound- for-pound rankings and stayed active with three knockouts before the close of the year. In Japan, his recognition naturally expanded in 2024. While a guest on a popular TV show late last year, a producer suggested that it might be a good time to adopt a stronger nickname representing who he is. “Then the term ‘Big Bang’ came to my mind
my camps. Now I can make weight without
[sacrificing] body mass. I believe that’s a big factor in delivering good KOs. Though I know I still have a lot of details to work on to be a better boxer.” Despite his accomplishments and growing fame in Japan, Nakatani behaves like an ordinary boxer. No “star
after thinking about it for a while,” Nakatani said. “It describes the origin of the universe, right? Something dense and hot ends up exploding and expanding. That’s what I am doing in boxing. I am totally loaded with dense and hot materials from the gym and I’m ready to explode in the fight.” Though he needed just 13 rounds to earn those three KOs last year, his explosive performances were the result of countless rounds of uncompromising preparation. Each camp consists of almost 200 combined rounds of
treatment” there or in Los Angeles. He arrives at the gym earlier than his team members. He does not mind getting in line for sparring when the ring is busy. He just calmly waits and watches others work, maybe imagining what he would do if he were in there. And once he enters the ring, he enjoys working on Hernandez’s assignments in front of other boxers. That’s his humble secret to success, the spark to his Big Bang. Nobody knows how much further his universe will expand.
Nakatani appeared on the cover of the January 2025 issue.
Nakatani. “I have been enjoying learning from Rudy and Daisuke since I was a teenager, back when I sparred even more rounds than I do now. The learning never ends. In every fight, against every opponent, we discuss in the camp what’s the main theme of the fight. “For example, in this coming fight
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