Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago steps into enemy territory on February 24th as he defends his WBC bantamweight title against Japanese hard-hitter Junto Nakatani at the Kokugikan in Tokyo. This 12-round spectacle promises fireworks, with Santiago’s prestigious belt hanging in the balance.
Fresh from his masterful performance in a tough 12-round unanimous decision over former multi-division world champion and future Hall of Fame inductee Nonito Donaire, Mexico’s 28-year-old Alexandro Santiago (26-3-5, 14 KOs) steps back into the ring. He defied the odds and achieved a lifelong dream by claiming the world title, and now he’s determined to keep it.
Nakatani (26-0, 19 KOs) is no stranger to conquering new adversaries. Having already secured world championship belts at both flyweight and super-flyweight, this 26-year-old southpaw isn’t afraid to push his boundaries. In just three and a half years, he’ll be entering his third weight division, and a dominant victory here could be the key that unlocks the unification clashes he so desires.
Who will come out on top as these two fighters from opposing parts of the world go head-to-head? Read our Alexandro Santiago vs. Junto Nakatani betting preview, brought to you with the latest odds from bookmaker William Hill, to get a better grasp of the duel.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 22nd, 2:00 P.M. (GMT)
According to bookmaker William Hill, Nakatani is the 1.17 favourite while Santiago is the 5.50 underdog. The draw stands at 15.00.
Nakatani stands at the peak of his powers and enjoys a plethora of advantages in this encounter. His 5’7″ stature grants him a significant four-and-a-half inch height advantage, coupled with a one-and-a-half inch reach edge (67″ to 65.5″). Additionally, the southpaw stance he employs, combined with his reputation as a thunderous puncher, poses a formidable threat.
Furthermore, he’ll be fighting on home soil, granting him the invaluable support of the Japanese crowd. In conclusion, this upcoming bout presents a great opportunity for Nakatani to clinch a world title belt.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: February 22nd, 2:00 P.M. (GMT)
Although Santiago’s performance against Donaire was undeniably impressive and secured his world title, it’s worth noting that Donaire, then aged 40, wasn’t at his peak. While acknowledging this isn’t meant to diminish Santiago’s achievement, it’s crucial to remember that facing a prime Donaire would likely present a different challenge.
While Santiago boasts a clean slate in terms of knockouts, it cannot be said with confidence that the record will remain intact after this encounter. Nakatani, hungry to establish himself in this new division and challenge other champions, presents a significant threat. His devastating knockout victory over Andrew Moloney serves as a stark reminder of his punching power. We are backing a Junto Nakatani knockout victory at 1.83.
