Junto Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) defended his WBC bantamweight title with a third round stoppage of Mexico’s David Cuellar (21-0, 8 KOs) in Tokyo. Nakatani hurt Cuellar to the body with a big left hand, sending the challenger to the canvas in pain for an eight-count. Cuellar got up but Nakatani swarmed him with power shots and ended the fight with another knockdown.
Cuellar fought bravely against the dominant champion, showing no fear in the face of power shots coming from various angles. But the shot to the body that dropped the challenger was a game-changer.
Nakatani staying and unbeaten and winning in dominant fashion just about a month after Naoya Inoue successfully defended his junior featherweight title keeps the hope alive for a super fight between the two lower-weight kings.
