World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym has been engaged in active training, centering on sparring, in Los Angeles in preparation for his first defense of the title against sixth-ranked Argi Cortes of Mexico on Sept. 18 at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, according to the gym.

  The 25-year-old Nakatani, who won the vacant title by demolishing Andrew Moloney of Australia in the 12th and the final round in May in Las Vegas, Nevada, has done a total of as many as 219 rounds of sparring in about 50 days ever since he entered LA in July.

  His sparring partners include such Americans as world-ranked light flyweight Anthony Olascuaga, who had a hard-fought battle in his unsuccessful challenge to World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji of B.M.B. Boxing Gym for the latter’s titles last April, and up-and-coming featherweight Japhethlee Llamido.

  Nakatani said, ‘’I have been engaged in the kind of training good for building up my strength so that I can move long rounds. For example, I did 14 rounds of sparring at one session.’’

  ‘’Though I sometimes feel tired due partly to my weight reduction effort, I am determined to complete my remaining training camp in LA in a concentrated manner,’’ Nakatani added.

PHOTO by M.T. Boxing Gym