Junto Nakatani vs Ryota Yamauchi Preview April 9th, 2022
Unbeaten WBO Flyweight Champion Junto Nakatani will be putting his belt on the line against fellow countryman Ryota Yamauchi in Saitama, Japan this Satirday, April 9th on the undercard of the Gennady Golovkin vs Ryota Murata tilt. Nakatani last fought in September when he stopped Angel Acosta in the fourth round. He won the vacant title in November, 2020 with an eighth-round stoppage over Giemel Magramo. Yamauchi last fought in June when he stopped Yuta Nakayama in the seventh round to retain his WBO Asia-Pacific Flyweight Belt. The 12-round bout can be seen live in most nations this weekend on DAZN.
Nakatani vs Yamauchi Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Ryota Yamauchi +1100
- Junto Nakatani -2500
My Pick
The 24-year-old Nakatani is a southpaw who already boasts a perfect record of 22-0 with 17 Kos. He’s boxed 88 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 77.3 per cent.
Nakatani stands 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 67-inch reach. Along with beating Acosta and Magramo, 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 hard-hitting Yamauchi this weekend.
The 27-year-old Yamauchi of Osaka climbs through the ropes with a record of 8-1 with 7 Kos. He’s obviously a pretty heavy hitter as he carries around a current knockout ratio of 77.8 per cent. He’s boxed 46 rounds since making his pro debut in 2017 and stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with an unlkisted reach. This puts him at a two-inch height disadvantage against Nakatani.
Yamauchi’s lone defeat came at the hands of Wulan Tuolehazi by way of a 12-round unanimous decision in China in 2019 in a shot at the vacant WBA International Flyweight Title. He beat Satoru Todaka by stopping him after the third round a year later to capture the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific Crown which he has defended once, in his last outing against Nakayama.
Prediction…
This contest pits power against power but both boxers also have fine skills. Nakatani is three years younger than Yamauchi but has more pro experience in the ring. Don’t let Yamauchi’s low fight total fool you though as just one of his nine opponents has entered the ring so far with a losing record. Nakatani should be wary of Yamauchi’s power but if he boxes the way he’s capable of I’m expecting him to retain his belt on Saturday in a pretty close and exciting contest.
Nakatani’s combination skills and power should be enough to do the trick.
Play: Nakatani -2500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Junto Nakatani betting • Ryota Yamauchi betting