| |
|
NAKATANI STOPS ASTROLABIO IN FIRST ROUND WITH WICKED BODY SHOT
By Dong Secuya PhilBoxing.com Sat, 20 Jul 2024

Japanese three-division world champion Junto Nakatani delivered a devastating body shot to the midsection of Filipino challenger Vincent Astrolabio who ran out of air as he crumpled to the canvas and succumbed to a first round knockout loss to the lanky Japanese who easily retained his WBC bantamweight belt at the Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena Saturday night.
Time of stoppage was at 2:37 of the first round.
"I expected a long fight but I'm sorry to the fans because the fight ended too early," Nakatani told the interviewer after the fight.
"I promise to have a good fight next time around," added Nakatani who now aims to have a unification fight against fellow Japanese bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue who holds the WBA version of the title.
The action started slow as the bell rang opening the fight. Nakatani, who has a three-inch reach advantage, clearly wants to fight from the outside as Astrolabio tries to find his way to penetrate inside. The southpaw Nakatani connected with a couple of lefts upstairs with Astrolabio throws his on shots to the body as the action begins to heat up. Generally the round was timid going into the last 30 seconds of the fight. But suddenly, a long left straight to the body by Nakatani, who packed a lot of power from both hands, connected at Astrolabio's midsection just above the belt, that sent the Filipino to the canvas writhing in pain. Astrolabio tried to get up but Referee Thomas Taylor reached the count of 10 for another knockout victory by Nakatani.
Nakatani improves his record to 28-0 with 21 stoppages as Astrolabio drops to 19-5-0, 14KOs.

Junto Nakatani (L) unleashes the body shot that stops Vincent Astrolabio in the first round of their WBC world bantamweight title fight Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan.

Referee Thomas Taylor embraces the defeated Astrolabio who was immobilized by Nakatani's powerful body shot in the first round of the WBC world bantamweight title fight Saturday night in Tokyo, Japan.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies" By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card , Tue, 17 Feb 2026TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN" , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts , Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS , Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs , Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|