Now a three-weight world champion and a pound-for-pound entrant, the explosive Junto Nakatani returns to action for the maiden defense of his WBC bantamweight title against Filipino-born challenger Vincent Astrolabio in Tokyo on July 20.
Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs) is improving with each fight and is one of the most feared punchers in world boxing. His sixth-round annihilation of Alexander Santiago in February was another showpiece performance and the Japanese southpaw is looking to keep up the momentum.
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. Vincent Astrolabio, exclusively on ESPN+
Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs) would appear to be easy pickings for Nakatani, but his 73% knockout percentage suggests that this opponent packs a punch and he's here on merit. Last August, the 27-year-old scored an 11th-round stoppage over Navapon Khaikanha in a world title eliminator.
Japan is one of the major hotbeds in world boxing right now and it continues to get stronger. The Sporting News now takes an in-depth look at the country's finest pound-for-pound fighters:
Boxing's pound-for-pound fighters from Japan
No. 5 Ginjiro Shigeoka
- Age: 24
- Record: 11-0 (9 KOs)
- Titles: IBF minimumweight
Despite it being relatively early into his professional ascent, Ginjiro has already picked up the IBF crown at the expense of Daniel Valladares. He's made one defense of the crown, which was a second-round knockout of Jake Amparo.
Previously, Gingiro was rated joint-fifth alongside his older brother, Yudai. However, the latter dropped a 12-round split decision to Melvin Jerusalem in March, surrendering his WBC minimumweight title in the process.
Ginjiro returns to action against Pedro Taduran on July 28.
MORE: SN's top-12 female pound-for-pound list
No. 4 Kenshiro Teraji
- Age: 32
- Record: 23-1 (14 KOs)
- Titles: Former WBA and WBC light flyweight champion, reigning Ring Magazine champ
The baby-faced Teraji transforms into an absolute devil in the prize ring. After claiming the WBC flyweight title in just his 10th fight, "The Amazing Boy" opted for a steep championship learning curve against the top contenders in his division. He improved at a rapid rate and is now regarded as the best 108-pounder on the planet.
There was a blip against Masamichi Yabuki, who handed Teraji a 10th-round stoppage defeat in 2021. However, the Japanese star bounced back to annihilate Yabuki inside three rounds, which proved to a small army of doubters that his first pro defeat was largely down to the aftereffects of a COVID-19 infection.
In his most recent bout, Teraji was far from his vintage best against Carlos Canizales, whom he defeated by majority decision. The Japanese fighter recently vacated his WBA and WBC titles and is tabbed to be moving north for a flyweight bout against Francisco Rodriguez Jr.
MORE: The Sporting News: Boxing top 12 pound-for-pound list
No. 3 Kazuto Ioka
- Age: 35
- Record: 31-3-1 (16 KOs)
- Titles: Former WBA super flyweight champion. Former WBA and WBC minimumweight champion, former WBA light flyweight champion, former WBA flyweight champion, former WBO super flyweight champion
The great Ioka was Japan's first-ever male four-weight world champion. You could end the list of accolades right there, but we're just getting started. The 35-year-old technician has contested 24 world title fights and taken on a who's who of elite-level opponents.
Among his victims are Felix Alvarado (UD 12), Juan Carlos Reveco (MD 12, TKO 11), McWilliams Arroyo (UD 10), Aston Palicte (TKO 10), Kosei Tanaka (TKO 10), Donnie Nietes (UD 12) and Joshua Franco (UD 12).
Ioka recently lost his WBA super flyweight title to Fernando Martinez.
No. 2 Junto Nakatani
- Age: 26
- Record: 27-0 (20 KOs)
- Titles: Reigning WBC bantamweight, former WBO super flyweight champion, former WBO flyweight champion
Nakatani, like Naoya Inoue, is a power-punching destroyer with quick hands and superb ring IQ. However, those weapons are bolstered by his southpaw stance and a 5ft 7 frame, which is extremely tall for the lower weight classes.
Nakatani made two successful defenses of the flyweight crown before moving up to 115 pounds. His power went with him because, in May, he scored a spectacular one-punch knockout of Australian contender Andrew Moloney to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title.
In February, Nakatani became a three-weight world champion at the expense of Alexandro Santiago, whom he stopped in six rounds.
No. 1 Naoya Inoue
- Age: 31
- Record: 27-0 (24 KOs)
- Titles: Reigning undisputed super bantamweight champion, former WBC light flyweight champion, former WBO super flyweight champion, former undisputed bantamweight champion
Inoue is arguably the finest pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, and only welterweight king Terence Crawford threatens his supremacy. Now a four-weight world champion, “The Monster” possesses a matchless blend of speed, power and perfect technique.
The Japanese hero scored decisive knockout wins over Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapalas to emerge as the first undisputed champ at 122 pounds in 50 years. And for an encore, "The Monster" devoured Luis Nery, getting off the floor to knock the Mexican lefty out cold in round six.