Junto Nakatani vs Angel Acosta Preview Sept. 10th, 2021
Unbeaten WBO Flyweight Champion Junto Nakatani of Japan will be putting his belt on the line against former WBO Light Flyweight champ Angel Acosta of Puerto Rico in Tucson, Arizona this Friday, Sept. 10th. The 12-round bout can be seen live in America on ESPN+ while fans in the UK can catch the action on Sky Sports. Acosta last fought in March when he beat Gilberto Mendoza by an eight-round unanimous decision. Nakatani was last in action in November when he won the vacant title with an eighth-round stoppage over Giemel Magramo.
Nakatani vs Acosta Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Angel Acosta +350
- Junto Nakatani -625
My Pick
The 23-year-old Nakatani is a southpaw who already boasts a perfect record of 21-0 with 16 Kos. He’s boxed 84 rounds since making his pro debut in 2015 and won the vacant Japanese Flyweight title in 2019 when he stopped Naoki Mochizuki in the ninth round. The champion has displayed excellent power up until now with a current knockout ratio of 76.2 per cent.
Nakatani stands 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 67-inch reach. He’s never fought outside of Japan yet and this fight was originally scheduled to take place in his homeland back in May. His biggest win was a sixth-round TKO over former world champion Milan Melindo of the Philippines in October, 2019. Nakatani is an excellent young prospect who will definitely be tested by the experienced Acosta this weekend.
The 30-year-old Acosta turned pro back in 2012 and has compiled a fine record so far at 22-2 along with 21 big Kos. He’s obviously known as a big hitter with a current knockout ratio of 87.5 per cent with all but one of his victories coming by way of stoppage. The former champion stands 5-feet-4-inches tall with a reach of 63.5 inches which means he gives up three inches in height and 3.5-inches in reach to Nakatani.
Acosta has boxed a total of 119 rounds since turning pro in 2012 and defended his title three times before losing it to Elwin Soto by 12th-round stoppage in June, 2019. He originally won the vacant belt with a 10th-round stoppage over Juan Alejo in December, 2017. Acosta’s first pro defeat came at the hands of Kosei Tanaka of Japan in May, 2017 by unanimous decision in a shot at Tanaka’s WBO Light Flyweight Title.
Tanaka then vacated the belt and moved up in weight while Acosta took on Juan Alejo for the crown. He stopped Alejo and then defended the title with a 12th-round TKO over Carlos Buitrago and then stopped Abraham Rodriguez in the second round four months later. Acosta has also beaten Victor Ruiz, Armando Vazquez, Juan Guzman, Luis Ceja and Japhet Uutoni.
Prediction…
This contest pits power against power but both boxers also have fine skills. Nakatani is seven years younger and doesn’t have the pro experience of Acosta and hasn’t faced the same level of opposition. However, he has a decent height and reach advantage. If Nakatani’s chin is as solid as it seems and he isn’t nervous fighting in America then I’m looking for him to do enough to hang onto his title in a close and exciting fight on Friday.
Nakatani’s youthfulness and skills should be enough.
Play: Nakatani -625 @ BetOnline.ag
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Angel Acosta betting • Junto Nakatani betting