One of the most talented and exciting fighters in boxing returns to action when WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani takes on Tasana Salapat at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on October 14. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will be broadcast by ESPN+ in the U.S.
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. Tasana Salapat, exclusively on ESPN+
Nakatani (28-0, 21 KOs) is a three-weight world champion at just 26 years old. The Japanese southpaw is coming off a lung-bursting first-round body-shot knockout of Vincent Astrolabio in July and will be looking to swat aside this latest challenger in a similar fashion.
Salapat (76-1, 53 KOs) has boxed almost exclusively in Thailand with the lone exception being a 2018 loss to current WBA bantamweight titleholder Takuma Inoue in Japan. This will be the 30-year-old lefty's first world title appearance and he's in deep against one of the best fighters in the world.
If Nakatani prevails, then there's talk that he'll meet Takuma Inoue in a unification clash next.
The Sporting News takes a look at the odds for this world title fight and predicts the outcome.
Junto Nakatani vs Tasana Salapat odds, betting
Per FanDuel, Nakatani is the -2500 favorite while Salapat is the +1420 underdog. The draw is +3600.
Junto Nakatani vs Tasana Salapat prediction
Many fans will gasp in awe when they see Salapat's ring record (76-1, 53 KOs), but you must look past the numbers with the Thai challenger. Fighters in Thailand are kept very active against sub-par opposition. Salapat is not a proven commodity at world level and he's in way over his head against a pound-for-pound star.
In terms of his fighting style, Sapalat is a gutsy brawler who likes to mix it up at mid-range. When he releases his punches, his feet are planted and he can generate a lot of leverage from that posture. And while he's far from being defensively sound, Salapat will slip shots and fire back with his own.
The problem for the Thai fighter is that all 76 of his wins have come against domestic opposition. Going up against Nakatani will be like stepping out of the swimming pool and entering the deep blue ocean for the first time. Salapat's aggressive fighting style is made to order for the champion who will have a field day in this one.
Nakatani will retain his WBC title in a hurry.
SN Prediction: Nakatani TKO 3
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >
