2-weight champ Jyunjin Nakatani – in the devastated area of LA, where he started out.
Close-up look at his camp for his first defense in the super flyweight division!
His opponent for the September 18 defense was Mexican Arj Cortez (28), ranked ninth in the division with 25 wins (10 KOs), 3 losses, and 2 draws. The champion’s camp was approached by the top rankers, but did not receive a colorful response from the challengers, who were scared off by his brilliant knockout on May 20.
He said, “I wanted a match with a well-known player, including a Japanese. The fans would be happy, and I would also feel that it would be worthwhile, and I would be excited about it. But when I saw Cortez’s video, he is more talented than his ranking, and he had a good fight with WBC champion Juan Francisco Estrada, so I am very determined. I’m looking forward to seeing how I can perform against this kind of opponent.”
Prior to winning the WBO super flyweight title, his 18 knockout victories had a pattern of damaging his opponents with a series of strikes. In his last fight, however, he hit a perfectly timed counter left hook that sent his opponent to the canvas.
I hope to show him a better way to win,” he said. I want to build up my game carefully, without being overpowering or messy, and then finish him off. Right now, I am practicing with the theme of keeping my distance. I want to fight in a way that confuses my opponent.”
On the ninth day of the Los Angeles Camp, boxing fans around the world were treated to a mega-fight in Las Vegas, as WBO champion Terence Crawford defeated WBA/WBC/IBF champion Errol Spence Jr. in a unification welterweight title fight. Both champions are southpaws like Nakatani, and the WBO super flyweight champion also watched the unification fight on TV.
The WBO super flyweight champion also watched the unification bout on TV, “I was struck by the height of Crawford’s left guard, the point where it was always in front of his chin. Plus, the accuracy of his jab. He can knock his opponent down with his jab alone. I really learned a lot. Crawford was meticulous in his fighting style. I learned that precise boxing makes a big difference.
Crawford is a switchy fighter, but this time you fought southpaw all the way. I think you decided that would work against Spence. Crawford took the first down in the second round, but instead of going all at once, you let the damage accumulate and made sure you took him down. The fact that he KO’d the fighter in a rhythm rather than forcing him to go down was also a quintessential example.”
Jyunjin Nakatani fulfilled the promise he made to himself at South Central. He is a champion who understands firsthand the importance of self-discipline, and on September 18, we hope to see his further evolution as he approaches Crawford.
