“Force of nature” Junto Nakatani signs co-promotional agreement with Top Rank

A BUSY week of news for Top Rank continued with the announcement of their latest signing.

WBC bantamweight world champion Junto Nakatani was confirmed last night (July 24) as having joined in co-promotional agreement with Top Rank alongside Teiken Promotions and M.T Boxing Gym. Last weekend the Japanese star provided further evidence of his knockout power with a first round victory against Vincent Astrolabio.

The 26-year-old has already won world titles at flyweight, super flyweight and is targeting more belts after making it clear after Saturday’s win that he wants a unification fight against WBA titlist Takuma Inoue before moving to super-bantamweight for a showdown against undisputed champion Naoya Inoue.

“Junto Nakatani is an exceptional, unique talent,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum.

“He is a force of nature and one of the sport’s most vicious punchers. The Junto Nakatani era is just starting. He will be the pound-for-pound king one day, and I am thrilled that he’s decided to join the Top Rank stable.”

Nakatani said, “Thank you to Bob Arum and everyone at Top Rank. This is a significant moment in my career, and I want to continue giving boxing fans great fights.”

The unbeaten Nakatani could be joined by Jaime Munguia at Top Rank with reports swirling around the industry yesterday that the Mexican had signed a multi-fight agreement. No official announcement has been made, however.

And it was revealed on Monday that Top Rank and Riyadh Season had teamed up in a working partnership which sees the Saudi power players sponsor 12 Top Rank events which would be selected by Arum during the remainder of this year and 2025.