最終日の朝の走り込みを終えた左から坪井、松本、岩田、那須川、増田の各選手（帝拳ジム提供写真）

The training camp, which commenced on 29 May, saw Tenshin Nasukawa, Shokichi Iwata, Ryusei Matsumoto, Riku Masuda, and Tomoya Tsuboi engage in rigorous physical conditioning sessions twice daily, in the morning and afternoon, at a golf course.

Throughout the duration of the camp, the fighters focused strictly on intensive running drills without wearing gloves. All participants appeared confident in having successfully built a solid foundation ahead of their respective upcoming bouts. During the camp, Teiken Gym’s official website posted daily updates featuring humorous commentary from each boxer, which was well received by followers.

成田キャンプに意気込んで出発した松本、那須川、岩田、坪井（写真左から）＝帝拳ジム提供写真＝

The participants include WBC world light-flyweight champion Shokichi Iwata, WBA world minimumweight champion Ryusei Matsumoto, WBC bantamweight No. 1 contender Tenshin Nasukawa, and WBC & WBO super-flyweight No. 1 contender Tomoya Tsuboi.

Through the gym, each fighter released statements regarding their outlook: “I will approach this with strong vitality,” said Nasukawa. Iwata commented, “I want to thoroughly push my cardio and legs to return both mentally and physically stronger.” Matsumoto remarked, “Building the foundation ahead of a hot summer,” while Tsuboi stated, “I will focus intensively on strengthening my lower body and stamina, which are lacking ahead of my next bout.”

Under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Masahiko Nakamura, the four boxers are focusing their training on lower-body development.

エストラーダを棄権に追いやり再起を果たした那須川㊧

Nasukawa utilized a diverse southpaw attack spearheaded by his speed and superior positioning to neutralize Estrada’s range throughout. The former WBA flyweight and WBC super-flyweight champion was systematically controlled before ultimately succumbing to the pressure.

Operating with measured footwork, Nasukawa circled to his left while centering his offense around left body uppercuts and straight lefts. By maintaining his preferred mid-to-long range, he denied Estrada any opportunity to establish an rhythm. Nasukawa’s right jab also served as a persistent nuisance, setting the stage for his power shots. While the former champion showed flashes of his veteran class—landing occasional straight rights and a left body-to-uppercut sequence—he could not overcome the visual impact of Nasukawa’s left hands, which caused significant swelling under Estrada’s right eye early on.

The scores at the end of the fourth round were tight, with two judges seeing it 38–38 and one scoring it 39–37 for Nasukawa. However, the momentum was already firmly with the Japanese fighter.

In the fifth, Nasukawa controlled the distance to stifle Estrada’s output, mixing his upstairs-downstairs attack with a right body hook set up by a left-hand feint. In the sixth, as Estrada increased his pressure, an accidental clash of heads during an exchange briefly halted the action. Upon the restart, Nasukawa immediately pressed the advantage with heavy shots. By the seventh, he landed a signature right uppercut off a feint and later rocked Estrada with a clean overhand left after successfully conditioning him to expect body blows.

Leading 77–75, 78–74, and 79–73 after eight rounds, Nasukawa intensified his assault in the ninth, breaking Estrada’s resolve. Following the round, Estrada retired in his corner. Promoter Eddie Hearn [Note: Source mentions “Hernandez,” likely referring to Matchroom or a representative] later revealed that Estrada had injured his left ribs two rounds prior, which prompted the withdrawal.

“I didn’t realize winning felt this good,” a visibly emotional Nasukawa stated post-fight. “I became stronger because of Estrada. For the first time, I felt fear before a fight, but I was supported by everyone around me.” Regaining his composure, he added, “I committed myself to working on my weaknesses to ensure victory regardless of the situation. A person can change this much in six months. I’m not perfect yet, but I think I showed a glimpse of what’s possible. I’ve earned my ticket for revenge, and I intend to take it.”

Nasukawa’s target is now the winner of the WBC bantamweight title clash between Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) and Kazuto Ioka (Shisei), scheduled for May 2nd at the Tokyo Dome.

Nasukawa (27) improves to 8-1 (3 KOs). Estrada (35), who appeared pensive following the defeat, falls to 45-5 (28 KOs).

いよいよ再起戦を迎える那須川㊧

After completing the weigh-in, Nasukawa expressed relief along with a sense of anticipation, saying, “I feel like it’s finally starting.” He added, “I’ve overcome my internal hurdles and done everything I needed to do, so I want people to see what a man who has steeled himself can do against a strong opponent.” Regarding his impression of Estrada up close, he noted, “He looks strong,” and followed up by saying, “I’m in the mindset of ‘I’m going to do this.'”

In the semi-main Super Flyweight bout, both Tomoya Tsuboi (Teiken) and former champion Pedro Guevara (Mexico) weighed in at 51.9 kg. Following his fight against Carlos Cuadras (Mexico), Tsuboi faces another former world champion; after just three professional bouts, he is already ranked No. 1 by both the WBC and WBO. “I’m going to enjoy it as I always do. I’ll show a style of boxing that is uniquely Tomoya Tsuboi,” he said.

For the second match, a 10-round Bantamweight bout, IBF No. 5-ranked Katsuma Akitsugi (Japan) cleared the scales at 53.3 kg for his clash against Jose Calderon (Mexico). Akitsugi, who is based in the United States, will be fighting in a Japanese ring for the first time in his 15th professional bout. “The adjustment went surprisingly well,” he said, adding, “I want to enjoy myself in front of the Japanese fans tomorrow.”

試合前会見に出席した出場選手たち　photo/Naoki Fukuda

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman also attended the press conference, stating, “Bouts between Japan and Mexico have long been guaranteed to be spectacular matches.” Every fight on this card features a clash between athletes from both countries. President Sulaiman further clarified that the winner of Estrada vs. Nasukawa will become the mandatory challenger for the winner of the May 2 title match between champion Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) and challenger Kazuto Ioka (Shisei).

On this day, Nasukawa once again described the days since his fight against Takuma, saying, “I have challenged myself in order to change.” Regarding fight predictions for the Estrada bout, he declared, “To hell with all that—I’m sticking my tongue out at it. I will definitely win.” He added, “I don’t want to lose to myself anymore. I’ve steeled myself.”

Estrada also repeatedly declared his intent to win. Stating that he must win this fight to achieve his goal of becoming a three-division champion, he said, “This is a test for me as well. I will certainly win.”

Tsuboi revealed he is “excited” for the fight against Guevara, stating, “While maintaining a sense of respect, I want to dominantly control the match on that day.” It remains to be seen if he will completely dominate a former world champion following his victory over Cuadras. Guevara, a former two-division champion returning to Japan for the first time in a while, said, “[Tsuboi] has beaten Cuadras, so I know he is a very strong fighter.”

Both Takami and Ayala are returning to the ring for the first time since losing their world titles. For Takami, this is also his first fight moving up in weight, and he stated, “I want to fight a match that is typical of Ryosuke Takami. Ending it with a knockout is best, but I’ve trained to ensure I can clearly surpass him technically regardless of how the fight unfolds.” Meanwhile, Ayala voiced his fighting spirit for his comeback, saying, “I want to put on a good fight, but more than anything, I have a strong desire never to lose again.”

Akitsugi, who has won 14 consecutive fights (4 KOs) since debuting in the US, opened with a fresh remark for his first match in Japan: “I’m not used to this kind of press conference, so I’m nervous.” However, he showed plenty of ambition, adding, “Since it’s my first time in a Japanese ring, I don’t just want to win; I want to leave a strong impression.” It will be interesting to see what kind of match he has against Calderon, who recently lost to Riku Masuda (Teiken) via technical decision.

Estrada, nicknamed “Gallo,” is burning with determination to become a three-division champion. While almost any boxer before a fight would say, “I’m in good condition and feel great,” the 35-year-old veteran gave off a truly lean and sharp impression. He stated that he has prepared thoroughly in his hometown of Hermosillo and in Mexico City. The training shown to the media—including mitt work, heavy bag work, and speed bag—was light, yet it offered a glimpse of his high-quality boxing through his continuous footwork as he circled and threw punches, along with his rapid and abundant volume of strikes. “Since Tenshin is a southpaw,” Estrada said, he completed numerous sparring sessions with southpaws in Mexico. With the calm demeanor of a veteran, he remarked, “Since it’s a fight in Tenshin’s home territory, I have to win with a performance that leaves no room for doubt.” It was also mentioned that his wife, Mrs. Gallardo, along with three of their four children, will be coming to support him at the match. The bout will be held as the main event of “Prime Video BOXING 15.”

葛西氏とミット打ちを披露する那須川㊨　photo/Naoki Fukuda

Nasukawa demonstrated mitt work with Yuichi Kasai, the GLOVES Gym chairman and former Teiken trainer with whom he partnered following the Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) bout, as well as heavy bag drills. While Nasukawa has traditionally included sparring in his public workouts, the session remained light on this occasion. “He completed six rounds of sparring as recently as yesterday,” noted Teiken Representative Tsuyoshi Hamada. During shadowboxing, Nasukawa focused on defensive positioning, maintaining upper-body movement while firing combinations.

Facing the former champion Estrada in a comeback bout following his first professional defeat, Nasukawa reflected on his current standing: “From both an objective and personal perspective, I am standing on the edge of a precipice.” He described his preparation as a process of “elevating myself day by day.”

His comments and training drills suggested a concerted effort to improve his inside game alongside his trademark long-range style. The extent to which this increased versatility will impact the Estrada fight remains a focal point of interest.

笑顔で来日した王者メディナ（帝拳ジム提供写真）

Currently, Nasukawa is conducting live sparring sessions against Selex Castro, Ricardo Salgado (both from Mexico), and Orayuwon Acosta (Puerto Rico) in preparation for his bout with Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico). This marks the fifth time Medina has traveled to Japan to serve as Nasukawa’s sparring partner.

Medina, who captured the WBO title from Yoshiki Takei (Ohashi) in Nagoya last September, successfully completed his first defense this past February with a decision victory over Adrian Curiel (Mexico) in his hometown of Guadalajara.

“I gained something massive by experiencing these emotions. My very existence, everything about me, has changed,” Nasukawa stated. This bout marks his comeback after suffering his first professional defeat in a world title match against Takuma Inoue (Ohashi). Emphasizing his grim determination against the formidable Estrada, he expressed his fierce resolve: “Ultimately, it’s about revenge. I’m going to do this.”

This event will be the first since the announcement of a long-term partnership between Teiken Promotions and Prime Video. With Tomoya Tsuboi and Kyosuke Takami (both Teiken) set to face former world champions, and the recent addition of Katsuma Akitsugu’s Japanese debut to the card, fan interest continues to intensify. The event will be streamed exclusively live on Prime Video.

The 12-round contest has been sanctioned by the WBC as a World Bantamweight Title Eliminator between the sanctioning body’s No. 1 ranked Estrada and No. 2 ranked Nasukawa. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for the WBC bantamweight world title, currently held by Takuma Inoue (Ohashi).

For Nasukawa, this serves as a high-stakes comeback bout following his first career defeat last November, a 12-round unanimous decision loss to the aforementioned Takuma Inoue in a bid for the vacant WBC crown. “Fighting and overcoming strong opponents is what combat sports is all about,” said a resolute Nasukawa. “I want to show my true strength by overcoming both myself and my opponent.”

The veteran Estrada, who turns 36 shortly after the fight, will be making his first appearance in Japan. Joining the press conference online from Mexico, “El Gallo” expressed his satisfaction: “I am very pleased to be fighting in Japan for the first time, and I am equally happy that my opponent is Tenshin.”

Broadcasting details for the event will be announced by Prime Video at a later date.

photo/Naoki Fukuda

For Nasukawa, this bout marks his return to the ring after suffering his first professional defeat last November—a unanimous decision loss to Takuma Inoue (Ohashi) in a bid for the vacant WBC Bantamweight title. Despite the high risk of facing a seasoned former champion in a comeback fight, Nasukawa remained resolute. “Fighting and overcoming strong opponents is what combat sports is all about,” he stated firmly. “I intend to stand my ground, defeat both my opponent and my own hesitations, and demonstrate my true strength.”

The 35-year-old Estrada is a household name in the boxing world, having reigned as a world champion in both the flyweight and super flyweight divisions. Over a career spanning nearly 15 years at the elite level, he is best known for his legendary “rivalry series” against greats such as Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, and Carlos Cuadras. Notably, he holds a 2-1 edge in his trilogy with Gonzalez. Although he suffered a 7th-round KO loss to the rising star Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (USA) in June 2024, Estrada has since reset his sights on the bantamweight division.

Joining the Tokyo press conference online from Mexico, Estrada expressed his excitement about his Japanese debut. “Above all, I am satisfied to be fighting in Japan for the first time, and I am equally pleased that my opponent is Tenshin,” the veteran remarked. Regarding Nasukawa’s style, Estrada noted, “He has a way of frustrating his opponents and uses ‘showmanship’—as seen in the Takuma fight—to appeal as a professional boxer. I must ensure I don’t get drawn into his pace.” Estrada made it clear that a victory over Nasukawa is the final step toward a world title challenge against Takuma Inoue.

Nasukawa acknowledged the magnitude of the task ahead. “I expect it to be a grueling fight,” he admitted. “But that is exactly why I must win at all costs. I will win this and secure my path to the next title match.” Both men appear focused on a singular goal: a showdown with the reigning champion, Takuma Inoue.