Undefeated World Boxing Organization flyweight champion Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym and his second-ranked challenger Ryota Yamauchi of Kadoebi Boxing Gym expressed their respective confidence on Apr. 7 at a hotel in Tokyo about their title fight on Apr. 9 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Prefecture.

The scheduled 12-round title fight will serve as the chief supporting card for the title unification match between World Boxing Association ‘’super’’ middleweight champion Ryota Murata of Teiken Boxing Gym and International Boxing Federation kingpin Gennadiy Gennadyevich Golovkin of Kazakhstan, popularly known as GGG.

The 24-year-old Nakatani, making his second defense of the title he won in November 2020, said, ‘’I had a total of 177 rounds of sparring for this fight and am satisfied with my training session. I have practiced my style of boxing. That is, both fighting at close range and long range.’’

‘’I am excited about fighting as the main supporting card for the tremendous fight (Golovkin vs Murata). I am determined to show an exciting fight so that fans can memorize the name of Junto Nakatani,’’ said left-handed Nakatani who has continued five straight knockout victories, including two world championship fights.

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Yamauchi, who is making his first crack at a world title, told reporters, ‘’I am now getting a real sense of fighting a world title bout because I am attending this kind of press conference. I don’t mind the content of the upcoming fight. What is most important is to emerge victorious.’’

His trainer is said to have provided him with ‘’seven secret strategies’’ when his challenge to Nakatani was formally decided early last month.

Asked about his confidence in the coming fight based on these strategies, hard-hitting Yamauchi simply said, ‘’Yes, I have.’’

Nakatani has a record of 22 straight wins, including 17 KOs, while Yamauchi has an 8-1 win-loss tally with seven KOs.