Nakatani vs Nishida unification official for June 8 in Tokyo

Bantamweight champions Junto Nakatani and Ryosuke Nishida will meet in a hotly anticipated clash this June

Despite rumblings that a pending mandatory defense could delay proceedings, bantamweight champions Junto Nakatani (WBC) and Ryosuke Nishida (IBF) are officially set to meet in a June 8th unification bout in Tokyo.

Nakatani (30-0, 23 KO) enjoyed reigns of terror at flyweight and super flyweight, but has seemingly become even more fearsome at 118, knocking out four opponents in the span of 12 months. Though most are already looking ahead at a blockbuster clash with Naoya Inoue, Nishida (10-0, 2 KO) is a top-tier operator and Nakatani’s greatest threat at bantamweight. His track record includes a decision over former title challenger Shohei Omori in just his third pro fight, a clean victory over former titlist Daigo Higa shortly thereafter, and an impressive victory over WBSS veteran Emmanuel Rodriguez last year.

Nakatani and Nishida met in the ring after Nakatani’s February knockout of David Cuellar, but news broke last month that Nishida would first have to get through 22-year-old challenger Jose Salas. Luckily, it appears that “El Chapulin” has agreed to step aside. You don’t want to miss this one.

ESPN+ will carry the stateside broadcast, which includes kickboxing legend turned top contender Tenshin Nasukawa’s (6-0, 2 KO) bout with Victor Santillan (14-1, 5 KO) and the latest from super-prospect Tomoya Tsuboi (1-0, 1 KO).