MY FIRST TIME: JUNTO NAKATANI
I had practiced karate, I already had a style that he probably saw talent and great potential in. “Getting back to my first amateur fight, I beat Hanabusa by decision. He was more experienced than I was and had already advanced to the national level, so I practiced twice a day, in the morning and at night, and gained so much confidence from the win. That was the moment when I thought, ‘I can do this.’ I went on to win the tournament, beating my opponent in the final at Korakuen Hall and becoming the champion.” MY FIRST PROFESSIONAL FIGHT April 26, 2015 – Junichi Itoga
Nakatani in action against gutsy Mexican warrior Sebastian Hernandez.
MY BEST PUNCH “The most memorable punch was the left hook that knocked Andrew Moloney out at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The fight was for the WBO junior bantamweight championship and was held on May 20, 2023. We knew the punch was effective against Moloney. I mean, I don’t usually watch too much video of my opponents, but Rudy and my other trainer, Daisuke Okabe, study them religiously and told me that the left hook would be a huge weapon. And they were right. “I tried to use the left hook in the early rounds, but my timing was a little off. Then, finally, in the 12th, I hit him so hard with the left. It just landed perfectly and cleanly. It was the best timing, so I remember feeling a real sense of relief. It felt great. “Until that moment, I was more of a guy who would knock opponents out with combinations. A lot of my KOs came from putting punches together and overwhelming my opponents with volume. But the Moloney knockout taught me the importance of timing and gave me confidence. Since then, I’ve had a lot of clean KOs, so I really do feel the left hook that hit Moloney in Las Vegas was an important punch in my career.”
“My amateur record was 14-2. I guess I had a future as an amateur fighter, but I wanted to become a professional fighter. After graduating from junior high school, I decided not to attend high school, and then I went to the United States to work with my trainer, Rudy Hernandez. That’s when I started living the life of a boxer, traveling back and forth between the U.S. and Japan. “I made my professional debut in a four-round strawweight bout at the Gifu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was such a small venue, with only 200 to 300 people in attendance. I don’t even remember who fought in the main event, but the place was packed. It was your typical local boxing event. “I won the fight by first-round knockout, and my right hook was the finishing blow. I didn’t know much about my opponent, but I was happy with the win. But, well, I was so fired up that I was making all kinds of crazy movements. It was definitely not a performance I was satisfied with. Anyway, a win is a win, and my first one was over. “My parents came to watch the fight, so we went out for a family dinner afterward. We celebrated my debut with some delicious yakiniku barbecue. “Unfortunately, Chairman Kozo passed away in 2012, but I was able to become a world champion and fulfill the expectations he had for me. He was especially fond of the WBC championship belt. The WBC gives you a ring after you make five successful defenses, and he told me that he wanted me to give him that ring as a gift. “I haven’t been able to [make five defenses yet], so that’s still one of my goals.”
RINGMAGAZINE.COM 63
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker