Both top-ranked World Boxing Organization super flyweight Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym and second-ranked Andrew Moloney of Australia cleared their official weigh-ins on May 19 (20 Japan time) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, setting the stage for their fight for the vacant WBO super flyweight title on May 20 (21 Japan time) at the same place.

The 25-year-old Nakatani tipped the scales at 51.98 kg (114. 6 lbs.) while Moloney weighed in at 51.93 kg (114.5 lbs), respectively, clearing the division’s weight limit of 52.16 kg (115 lbs.).

The left-handed Nakatani, a former WBO world flyweight champion, told Japanese reporters online some eight hours after his weigh-in, ‘’I think I have already put on weight by 4 to 5 kg since the weigh-in was held much earlier (in the day).’’

The undefeated Nakatani added he intends to climb through the ropes some 5 kg over the (super flyweight) limit.

‘’Since the upcoming fight is a very important fight for me as a lot of attention will be focused on the bout, I am determined to be more active than usual so that I can achieve a knockout victory.’’

The Nakatani-Moloney fight will serve as the chief supporting card for the much attention-focused world lightweight title match between the unified champion Devin Haney of the United States and former three-division world kingpin Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine.

The WBO super flyweight title was left vacant by Nakatani’s compatriot Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym in February this year. Moloney, 32, was then selected as Nakatani’s opponent for the title.

Nakatani has a record of 24 straight wins, including 18 KOs, while Moloney, a former World Boxing Association super flyweight kingpin, has a 25-2 win-loss tally with 16 KOs with one no contest.
Photo by SUMIO YAMADA