Tenshin Nasukawa Halts Jonathan Rodriguez In 3rd Round, Eyes Bantamweight Title Shot

Tenshin Nasukawa wasn’t thrilled with the way he landed his first career stoppage earlier this year.

Saturday’s performance delivered a far more satisfying outcome.

The wildly popular combat sports star stopped Jonathan Rodriguez in the third round of their ESPN+ aired co-feature. Rodriguez was floored and deemed unfit to continue at 1:49 of round three Saturday at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

“Finally, I got my knockout,” Nasukawa exclaimed through in-ring translator Mizuka Koike. “Everything was perfect physically and mentally and I was so happy to get this knockout victory tonight.”

The bout was fought at a 120-pound catchweight, though Nasukawa plans to race towards a bantamweight title.

Nasukawa went the distance in his first two pro fights last year. He earned a third-round stoppage of Luis Robles, who suffered an ankle injury in their January 23 bout at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

The mission this time around was to entertain and then close the show.

Every box was checked in that regard, with the perfect opponent to offer that performance. Rodriguez—a Puerto Rican boxer from Pennsylvania—was outgunned from the start and offered little in the ring. Nasukawa quickly established his straight left hand, for which Rodriguez had no response.

Rodriguez was nearly stopped at the end of the second round. Nasukawa was so confident of a knockout that he turned around after he slammed home a left hand. Rodriguez somehow remained upright, to which Nasukawa regrouped and unloaded along the ropes. A series of power shots forced Rodriguez’s knees to buckle but he avoided the canvas and made it to the bell.

He wasn’t afforded that same luxury one round later.

Nasukawa was in perfect position to tag Rodriguez with a clean left hand down the pipe. It was followed by a hook to the body and a left uppercut. Rodriguez was wobbled and then driven back by a right hook. A final left hand sent him reeling into the ropes for the bout’s lone knockdown. He beat the count issued by referee Michiaki Someya but his body language prompted the stoppage.

Nasukawa advanced to 4-0 (2 knockouts), while Rodriguez (17-3-1, 7 KOs) suffered his second straight defeat.

Most boxing fans will always attach Nasukawa’s name to the farcical 2018 New Year’s Eve exhibition with Hall of Fame all-time great Floyd Mayweather Jr. The former kickboxing star, however, has come into his own as a boxer.

So much, that he has aspirations far beyond most fighters just four bouts into their pro career.

“I believe I am continuing to show you my progression,” noted Nasukawa. “I haven’t come close to reaching my peak yet. I want to continue to improve and to challenge for the bantamweight championship.

“All four [titleholders] are from Japan, I hope I can get a shot soon. I do believe I need to take it step by step to earn my opportunity.”

Nasukawa-Rodriguez was part of a four-fight livestream. Headlining the event, WBC bantamweight titlist Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs) defends versus Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs).

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