Top Rank return on 24 February 2024 for their second Japanese card of the year, featuring Santiago vs Nakatani. Unbeaten Japanese superstar Junto Nakatani is stepping up to Bamtamweight to challenge Alexandro Santiago for his WBC title.
The four-bout card includes two further world title bouts; Takuma Inoue vs Jerwin Ancajas and Kosei Tanaka vs Christian Rangel.
Top Rank and ESPN agreed a deal to air 5 different Japanese cards in 2024, the first being Teraji vs Canizales in January. This second show sees Japanese boxer Junto Nakatani in the away corner as he enters as a challenger against Santiago.
Nakatani (26-0) has already captured WBO gold in the Fly and Super Flyweight divisions, and is stepping up to Bamtamweight for the first time in his career.
Nakatani also carries serious punching power. He has bagged 19 KO’s from his 26 wins, and arguably picked up KO of the year when he finished Andrew Moloney with 18 seconds left on the clock.
But that KO was the only one he managed at Super Flyweight in 3 bouts, so it remains to be seen whether the power will translate to a higher weight division.
Nakatani’s opponent is the Mexican Alexandro Santiago (28-3-5). The reigning WBC champion captured his belt in July 2023 when he defeated legend Nonito Donaire via Unanimous Decision.
Santiago is on a four fight win streak since March 2022, winning all via Unanimous Decision. His last defeat came back in 2021 in a Majority Decision loss to Gary Russell, losing by a single point on two cards against the hometown fighter in America. His two other losses came early in his career in 2013 and 2014, and he picked up 4 different draws between 2016 and 2018.
📅Dates📅
24 February 2024
⏰Start Times⏰
Santiago vs Nakatani will be shown on ESPN+ live from 3 a.m ET.
Coverage will begin at 8 a.m in the UK.
🏟️Venue🏟️
The event is being held in Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
📺Broadcasters📺
USA: Santiago vs Nakatani will be broadcast on ESPN+
There is no UK broadcaster for Alexandro Santiago vs Junto Nakatani.
🥊Undercard🥊
Alexandro Santiago vs Junto Nakatani
WBC World Bamtamweight title
Takuma Inoue vs Jerwin Ancajas
WBA World Bamtamweight title
Kosei Tanaka vs Christian Rangel
WBO World Super Flyweight title
Jonas Sultan vs Riku Masuda
You can keep up to date with the latest cards by following our boxing calendar via the link below. You can also follow across social media to keep track of the latest updates.