The World Boxing Council’s top-ranked bantamweight Vincent Astrolabio of the Philippines said during his public workout in Tokyo on July 15 he is well prepared to challenge champion Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym for the latter’s title on July 20 as he told reporters on his current state of affairs.
The fight between Nakatani and Astrolabio will serve as the main event of the extravaganza called ‘’Prime Video Presents Live Boxing 9’’ at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.
The 27-year-old Astrolabio, who lost by a majority decision to Jason Moloney of Australia for the then vacant World Boxing Organization bantamweight title in May last year, said he held a total of 180 rounds of sparring during the four-month intensive training for the upcoming fight.
In particular, he invited second-ranked Japanese super bantamweight Jun Ikegawa of Kadoebi Boxing Gym, who is a tall undefeated southpaw, and held sparring sessions for two weeks, a rare move for a Philippine challenger to invite a Japanese boxer all the way to his country for a particular fight,
Though Astrolabio curtly said, ‘’I am well prepared,’’ M.T gym head Takeshi Murano was amazed at Astrolabio’s intention by saying, ‘’He has a fighting spirit. In view of the state of affairs of his shoulders and back, I think he will throw heavy punches. I think I feel rising tension.’’
Nakatani has 27 straight victories, 20 by KO, while Astrolabio has a record of 19 wins, including 14 KOs, against four losses.
Some of the other major fights in the event will include the WBO super flyweight title fight between Kosei Tanaka of Soul Box Hatanaka Boxing Gym and 12th-ranked Jonathan Rodriguez of Mexico for Tanaka’s first defense of the title. Second-ranked WBO flyweight Riku Kano of Taisei Boxing Gym will vie for the vacant WBO flyweight title with third-ranked Anthony Olascuaga of the United States.
Besides, highly touted kick-boxer turned Tenshin Nasukawa of Teiken Boxing Gym, currently ranked seventh in the bantamweight division by the World Boxing Association, will have a 10-round nontitle bout with the WBA’s fourth-ranked bantamweight Jonathan Rodriguez of the U.S., which will be held as the chief supporting card for the Nakatani-Astrolabio fight.