Top-ranked World Boxing Organization super flyweight Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym is brimming with confidence as he told Japanese reporters via online in Los Angeles he will return to Japan as a world champion without fail.

The 25-year-old Nakatani, who has so far sparred 140 rounds ever since he visited LA at the end of March, will face second-ranked Andrew Moloney of Australia for the vacant WBO world super flyweight title on May 20 (21 Japan time) at the MGA Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Nevada. The title was left vacant by Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym in February this year.

Nakatani, who sat at the feet of noted trainers Rudy Hernandez and Daisuke Okabe in LA, said, ‘’I have been firmly concentrating on my training.’’ He has been sparring with local super bantamweight Adrian Alvarado of the U.S., California-based Japanese Katsuma Akitsugi, up-and-coming amateur boxer Isaias Estevan Navarro, etc. He has also sparred with highly touted second-ranked World Boxing Association super flyweight John Ramirez of the U.S.

The left-handed Nakatani, who vacated the WBO flyweight title last October to move up to the super flyweight division, pounded out a 10-round unanimous decision over Francisco Rodriguez of Mexico last November in his first fight at a super flyweight.

While the undisputed world lightweight title match between Devin Haney of the U.S. and
Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine will serve as the main event on May 20, Nakatani said, ‘’I am determined to show no less exciting fight than Lomachenko.’’

Nakatani is expected to move on to Las Vegas on May 16.
Nakatani has a record of 24 straight wins, including 18 knockouts, while the 32-year-old Moloney has a 25-2 win-loss tally with 16 KOs. He has one no-contest.　Photo by M.T Boxing Gym