Mauricio Sulaiman, the president of the World Boxing Council, presented the championship belt to newly crowned WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym on March 26 in Tokyo.

Sulaiman visited Japan Boxing Commission’s office after visiting the Philippines to attend the award presenting ceremony of ‘’the Pacquiao-Elorde Awards’’ named after the two Philippine greats, Gabriel “Flash” Elorde and Manny Pacquiao.

Nakatani, a former two-division world champion, stopped World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Alexandro Santiago of Mexico in the sixth round on Feb. 24 in Tokyo to win the title, said, ‘’I was encouraged by having been given the championship belt directly from the president himself. Since a number of Japanese won the (WBC championship) belts, I am determined to show better-than-expected performance.’’

Sulaiman said his fight with (Andrew) Moloney (of Australia for the vacant World Boxing Organization super flyweight title in Las Vegas, Nevada last May) was one of the best knockout bouts he had ever seen.’’

Sulaiman also cited Nakatani’s title-winning fight with Santiago, who had won the vacant title by decisioning legendary Nonito Donaire of the Philippines last July. He hopes Nakatani to continue shining as a front boxer for the WBC.

Nakatani said he has already resumed training.