Mikito Nakano vs. Ra'eese Aleem Headlines Nov. 24 Undercard
Prime Video Japan's head of content Yosuke Ishibashi teased 'other exciting matchups' when the Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue show on November 24 was officially announced two weeks ago and today, Teiken Promotions have not disappointed with their undercard.
In the co-feature from Tokyo, it will be a homecoming for Japanese southpaw Mikito Nakano (14-0, 13 KOs) who faces Ra'eese Aleem (22-1, 12 KOs) in a 12-round IBF featherweight title eliminator to determine world champion Angelo Leo's next mandatory challenger.
Aleem is the IBF's No. 5-rated contender, while Nakano sits two places lower at No. 7.
The event, taking place at Toyota Arena in Japan, will be broadcast on Prime Video domestically while an American broadcaster and others worldwide have not been confirmed as this story goes to publication.
Nakano turned professional in 2018 and has steadily worked his way up on the local circuit at the famed Korakuen Hall before annexing the vacant OPBF title with a fourth-round knockout win over Bryx Piala in September 2024.
After a third-round stoppage over Hiroki Hanabusa in his first defense to kickstart 2025, he got some international seasoning on the Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas undercard in May before staying busy with a second-round finish of Jing Aguan on Aug. 2.
Waiting for something bigger to fall, a career-best challenge now awaits him as the route to world championship gold has become clearer in recent weeks.
Aleem is five years his senior and been a professional since 2011, gradually finding his way to bigger opportunities as an undefeated fighter.
An impressive 11th-round stoppage win over fellow-unbeaten contender Vic Pasillas in January 2021 propelled him to tougher tests, passing them against Eduardo Baez (MD10) and Mike Plania (UD10) before coming unstuck against Sam Goodman on away soil in Australia via a 12-round split decision defeat in June 2023.
The Michigan native spent almost 18 months on the sidelines before returning at featherweight, pitching a pair of 10-round points win to set up this opportunity.
Elsewhere, fast-rising junior bantamweight prospect Tomoya Tsuboi (2-0, 1 KO) will take a huge step up in opposition when facing experienced former titleholder Carlos Cuadras (44-5-1, 28 KOs) in a 10-round contest.
Tsuboi was a former amateur standout, who collected gold at the 2021 World Championships. His attempts to reach the Paris Olympics last summer proved unsuccessful, falling at the final hurdle in qualifying.
The 29-year-old made his professional debut amid plenty of fanfare, needing two rounds to stop Boonrueang Phayom in March before taking a considerable step-up and beating Van Thao Tran in a 10-round points win three months later.
Cuadras, The Ring's No. 3-rated junior bantamweight, was a talented amateur himself before turning pro in 2008. "Principe" won his first 29 fights before claiming the WBC title against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TD8), making six title defences before a 12-round points defeat by Roman Gonzalez in 16.
Since then, he's lost a pair of fights to Juan Francisco Estrada (UD12, TKO11) and was outpointed by The Ring's No. 6 pound-for-pound boxer Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez.
The 37-year-old Mexican warhorse breathed new life into his career though, edging past compatriot Pedro Guevara with a 12-round split decision in November 2023 - after which he has remained active with two wins.
Bantamweight contender Riku Masuda (8-1, 8 KOs) will step into the international class when colliding with Jose Calderon (14-2, 6 KOs) over 10 rounds.
Masuda turned over in July 2022 and has moved quickly since. In just his fourth fight he came up narrowly short against future WBA boss Seiya Tsutsumi (UD10) when challenging for the Japanese title in August 2023.
The 28-year-old southpaw puncher kicked on and stopped former world title challenger Sultan Jonas (TKO 1), picked up the national title at the second time of asking and made two defenses before stopping Mitchell Banquez (KO 1) on June 8.
Calderon turned professional at 18 in Mexico, suffering early defeats to Gustavo Perez (UD 6) and Yudel Reyes (TKO 8) on his way up but learned from those losses, continuing to progress.
The 22-year-old has won his last seven fights and has wins over former WBC bantamweight titlist Alexandro Santiago (MD 10) last November and edged home with a eight-round split decision nod over Gohan Rodriguez on July 12.
