Junto Nakatani vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Preview November 1st, 2022
Former unbeaten WBO Flyweight Champion Junto Nakatani of Japan will be stepping up in weight this Tuesday, November 1st as he takes on former WBO and IBF World Minimumweight Champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr of Mexico in a 10-round super flyweight tilt. The bout will be held at the the Saitama Super Arena and can be seen live in America on ESPN+ starting at 4:30 am ET while most other nations can catch it on DAZN. Nakatani last fought in April when he stopped Ryota Yamauchi in the eighth round. Rodriguez last saw action in July when he beat Erick Omar Lopez by 10-round unanimous decision.
Nakatani vs Rodriguez Jr. Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Francisco Rodriguez Jr +1000
- Junto Nakatani -2000
My Pick
The 24-year-old Nakatani is a southpaw who already boasts a perfect record of 23-0 with 18 Ko’s. He’s boxed 96 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 78.3 per cent.
Nakatani stands just over 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 67-inch reach. He stopped former world champion Milan Melindo of the Philippines in the sixth round in October, 2019 and then won the the vacant WBO Flyweight Title in November, 2020 with an eighth-round stoppage over Giemel Magramo. He stopped Angel Acosta in the fourth round in his first defence and Ryota Yamauchi in his last outing.
The 30-year-old Rodriguez Jr climbs through the ropes with a record of 36-5-1 with 25 Ko’s and has boxed 250 rounds since making his pro debut in 2010. He’s got solid power as well and carries around a current knockout ratio of 60 per cent but has just one stoppage in his last four outings. His first loss came back in 2012 at the hands of Salvador Arias by six-round unanimous decision.
He was stopped by Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in the seventh round in 2013, dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Donnie Nietes in a shot at the WBO Light Flyweight Title in 2015, lost a 12-round split decision to Moises Fuentes in 2015 and was beaten by Kazuto Ioka by a 12-round unanimous decision last year in a shot at the WBO Super Flyweight Belt. Rodriguez’s lone draw was a 10-round affair with Jomar Fajardo in 2014.
Since turning pro, Rodriguez has also captured the vacant NABF Light Flyweight Title and the vacant, WBC Latino Super Flyweight Crown. However, when stepping up against the world’s elite boxers such as Gonzalez, Nietes, Fuentes and Ioka he’s come up just short. Rodriguez stands 5-feet-4-inches with a 65-inch reach which means he’s giving up 3.5-inches in height to Nakatani as well as two inches in reach.
Prediction…
This contest pits power against power but both boxers also have fine skills. Nakatani is six years younger than Rodriguez though, is unbeaten, has the edge in reach and height and fighting at home. However, he is stepping up to the super flyweight division for the first time. Rodriguez has plenty of experience against quality boxers but I think he’ll fall just short again against Nakatani, but will have his moments in the fight.
Nakatani’s combination skills and power should be enough to do the trick.
Play: Nakatani -2000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Francisco Rodriguez Jr betting • Junto Nakatani betting