BoxRec

Junto Nakatani vs David Cuellar headlines February 24th bantamweight tripleheader

Junto Nakatani, Seiya Tsutsumi, and Tenshin Nasukawa will be in action on ESPN+ early next year

After picking up a trio of knockouts in 2024, pound-for-pound stalwart Junto Nakatani will headline a February 24th all-bantamweight tripleheader in Tokyo.

Nakatani (29-0, 22 KO) kicked off this year’s campaign by smashing Alexandro Santiago for the WBC title, then dispatched mandatory challenger Vincent Astrolabio in a single round before taking out Petch Sor Chitpattana in October. A potential superfight with Naoya Inoue is still on the table, but first he’ll have to get past undefeated David Cuellar (28-0, 18 KO), a 23-year-old whose most noteworthy wins came over the badly faded Moises Fuentes, Luis Concepcion, and most recently Jose Velasquez.

Fellow titlist Seiya Tsutsumi (12-0-2, 8 KO), fresh off an upset of Takuma Inoue for the WBA belt, battles Daigo Higa (21-3-1, 19 KO) in a rematch of their 2020 draw. Still not fond of fighters getting title shots off of losses, but between their history, how hard Higa pushed Yoshiki Takei in September, and the fact that this has Fight of the Year written all over it, I’ll allow it.

Not clear why Nakatani and Tsutsumi aren’t just unifying; hopefully that’s on the table for summer if both pick up wins.

Perhaps the most interesting bout is the opener, which pits bona fide superstar Tenshin Nasukawa (5-0, 2 KO) against the always dangerous Jason Moloney (27-3, 19 KO). Nasukawa, a former kickboxing ace, looks to have shaken off the growing pains and emerged as a genuine contender. Moloney, though less than the sum of his parts and coming off an upset loss to Takei, remains a tough out for most of the division.

holy ai

thats not nakatani or cuellar in the poster

Next monday

8 o'clock tomorrow morning on Sky

Never realized Tsutsumi drew with Higa over 10 rounds 5 years ago

handsofstone wrote: ↑23 Feb 2025, 07:36 Never realized Tsutsumi drew with Higa over 10 rounds 5 years ago

Just watched the first fight, typical all Japanese scrap, 2 tough, fit, strong dudes dishing out and taking leather, draw seemed fair but I'd say I was more impressed with Higa, he landed the more eye catching work

Date: February 24, 2025
Location: Ariake Arena - Tokyo, Japan

Where to watch
USA: ESPN+ & Sky Sports
Start time: 4 am ET | 1 am PT | 8 am UK

Fight Card

WBC Bantamweight Championship
Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar

WBA Bantamweight Championship
Seiya Tsutsumi vs. Daigo Higa

10 Round Bantamweight Bout
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Jason Moloney

Didn't have it on my radar before yesterday.
Good thing I took the week off.
Definitely gonna watch it now

Should be a good watch

Let's go!!

Ryosuke Kiuchi UD-4 Fuentes Kitajima (39-37, 40-36, 40-36)

What’s the latest?

Ryuya Moriai def. Eigoro Akai by TKO (R2 at 1:15)
Ryosuke Kiuchi def. Fuentes Kitajima by unanimous decision (40-36, 40-36, 39-37)
Hayato Aiko def. Yuki Sato by unanimous decision (39-37, 39-37, 39-37)

Thanks

Just tuning in

Damn! What a 9th round.

Tsutsumi and Higa trade heavy knockdowns in the 9th wow!!

This seems to be some sort of world title fight, but it’s not listed on box rec

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑24 Feb 2025, 05:55 This seems to be some sort of world title fight, but it’s not listed on box rec

It's for the WBA title.
Their are some issues regarding boxrec and the WBA, that's why it's not showing.

Ah I see, thanks - the champions face looks like he’s walked into a buzzsaw

The relentless champion seems to be ahead, judging by the commentary. The other guy is throwing haymakers… last round coming up.

What the hell? bizarre… have we ever had three identical score cards come up 115 to 115 before?

I guess you can’t argue with that

Never seen a UD draw, let alone live.

Tsutsumi got robbed of a win twice now, too bad.
Still gutsy performance by both fighters.

Seiya Tsutsumi D-12 Daigo Higa (114-114, 114-114, 114-114)

Is this the kid who fought Floyd Mayweather?

Let's see if it's not too soon for Tenshin.

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑24 Feb 2025, 06:33 Is this the kid who fought Floyd Mayweather?

Yes.