Nakatani Wins Unanimous Decision in Super Bantamweight Debut

Junto Nakatani defeated Sebastian Hernandez Reyes by unanimous decision after 12 rounds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, securing his first victory at super bantamweight and maintaining his undefeated professional record.

The bout, held at the Mohammed Abdo Arena as the co-main event of The Ring V Night of the Samurai card headlined by Naoya Inoue, drew attention for its competitiveness. All three judges scored the fight for the 27-year-old Japanese southpaw: 115-113 twice and 118-110 once. The wider margin on the final card sparked debate, as the action appeared closely contested, particularly in the later rounds. Nakatani improved to 32-0 with 24 knockouts, while Hernandez, a 25-year-old from Tijuana, Mexico, fighting out of San Diego, suffered his first professional loss, dropping to 20-1 with 18 knockouts.

Nakatani entered the ring as a heavy favorite, listed at 15-1 odds by betting sites. A former unified bantamweight champion with the IBF and WBC titles, he had vacated those belts earlier in the year to move up to the 122-pound division. This non-title fight marked his debut at the higher weight class, where he weighed in at 121.6 pounds to Hernandez's 120.8. The...