Top Rank had a jam-packed week of news, as they revealed the exciting addition of another renowned fighter to their already impressive roster of athletes.
Last night, it was officially announced that Junto Nakatani, the current WBC bantamweight world champion, has entered into a co-promotional agreement with Top Rank. Nakatani, who is a renowned Japanese star and collaborates with Teiken Promotions and M.T Boxing Gym, showcased his impressive knockout abilities once again in Tokyo last weekend, as he swiftly defeated Vincent Astrolabio in just one round.
At just 26 years old, he has already claimed world titles in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions. After his victory on Saturday, he expressed his desire for a unification bout against WBA titlist Takuma Inoue, before eventually transitioning to the super-bantamweight category for an epic clash against the undisputed champion, Naoya Inoue.
Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum praised Junto Nakatani as an extraordinary and one-of-a-kind talent.
“He possesses an unstoppable energy and stands as one of the sport’s fiercest punchers. The Junto Nakatani era is only beginning, and I am filled with excitement as he has chosen to join the prestigious Top Rank stable. I firmly believe that he will ascend to become the pound-for-pound champion in the future.”
Expressing gratitude to Bob Arum and the entire Top Rank team, Nakatani acknowledged that this is a pivotal moment in his career and expressed his determination to consistently deliver exciting fights for boxing enthusiasts.
There are rumors circulating in the industry that Jaime Munguia, the Mexican talent, may potentially join Top Ranks alongside the Japanese talent. Although no official announcement has been made, there have been reports of Munguia signing a multi-fight agreement.
In other Top Rank updates, it was announced on Monday that a collaboration had been formed between them and Riyadh Season. As part of this partnership, the influential Saudi organization will be sponsoring 12 Top Rank events, handpicked by Arum, for the rest of 2021 and throughout 2025.
