By Declan Taylor
TAKUMA INOUE will headline the first show of a Japanese double-header in October.
The 27-year-old will defend his WBA bantamweight title against Seiya Tsutsumi on Sunday October 13 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Then, 24 hours later at the same arena, three-division champion Junto Nakatani will take centre stage when he defends his WBC bantamweight title against Thailand’s 76-1 Petch Sor Chitpattana.
Junto Nakatani in action
Inoue, who is the younger brother of Japanese star Naoya, won his title with a lopsided decision victory over Liborio Solis in April of last year and has since defended it twice.
He stopped Jerwin Ancajas in the ninth round of their February clash and then widely outpointed Sho Ishida in May. Now, he will look to defend his belt for the third time this year and rubber-stamp an excellent 2024 as champion.
In the chief support, 22-1 (14) Kenshiro Teraji will make his 112lb debut following an incredible run of 15 consecutive world title fights at light-fly, of which he won 14.
His opponent Rosales, however, is in good form having won five on the spin since a 2022 defeat to Angel Ayala in Mexico and this outing represents a chance for the 29-year-old Nicaraguan to win the WBC flyweight title for the second time.
Then in the main event on Monday 14, Nakatani will look to add to his burgeoning reputation as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best against the highly experienced Chitpattana AKA Petch CP Freshmart.
Nakatani has ended nine of his last 11 inside the distance, including a one-round blowout against Vincent Astrolabio in July, which was the first defence of his WBC bantamweight title that he won in February.