Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas and Alexandro Santiago vs. Junto Nakatani will likely be streamed reside on ESPN+ from the Ryogoku Sumo Enviornment in Tokyo, Japan at present. The occasion begins at 4 AM ET (ESPN+) / 9 AM UK tim.
– Junto Nakatani not solely secured the WBC bantamweight world title but in addition etched his title into the annals of boxing historical past as a three-weight world champion, all by the tender age of 26!
From the opening bell, Nakatani was controlling the vary, making Santiago’s makes an attempt to shut in look like a toddler attempting to unravel a Rubik’s Dice at the hours of darkness. Regardless of Santiago’s valiant efforts and sneaky physique pictures that momentarily appeared to offer him a glimmer of hope, Nakatani’s precision and timing had been merely on one other stage.
Santiago, maybe feeling a bit spicy, managed to land a proper that rocked Nakatani within the second, virtually flipping the script. However let’s be actual – it takes greater than a fortunate shot to rattle a champ like Nakatani. By the tip of the third, it was clear Nakatani was nonetheless in cost, main 3-0 on my card, regardless of Santiago’s physique work and left hooks.
The fourth spherical noticed Santiago upping his recreation, throwing warning to the wind and touchdown extra pictures. But, for each punch he landed, Nakatani had a counter, turning Santiago’s greatest spherical right into a bittersweet second. And simply while you thought Santiago is likely to be turning the tide within the fifth, Nakatani reminded everybody why he’s to not be underestimated, showcasing his boxing smarts and proving that transferring up in weight was maybe the perfect resolution of his profession.
Within the sixth spherical. Santiago, maybe a tad too keen, walked straight right into a left hook from Nakatani that he by no means noticed coming. Shaken however not stirred, Santiago tried to collect his wits, solely to be met with a barrage from Nakatani that left him dazed, confused, and on the canvas. With the nook dropping by the wayside, it was a wrap.
This was assertion win that screamed to the world he’s not simply taking part in within the large leagues – he’s dominating them. At 26, with the world at his toes and a shiny new belt round his waist, Nakatani’s efficiency was nothing wanting magnificent. What an evening!
THE HIGHLIGHT REEL KING 🍿@BoxerJunto | #AndNew pic.twitter.com/H5SAvqFSmA
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 24, 2024
– In what can solely be described as a ballet of brutality, Kosei Tanaka took the artwork of boxing and turned it right into a spectacle of sheer dominance in opposition to Christian Bacasegua. From the get-go, Tanaka orchestrated a symphony of punches that had Bacasegua taking part in catch-up from the opening bell.
For the primary few rounds, Tanaka was simply warming up, showcasing a lovely array of boxing abilities, making Bacasegua look like he was there for a sparring session relatively than a struggle. By the third spherical, it was clear who was in cost, with Tanaka dictating the tempo like a boss. Tanaka was giving a tutorial on dismantle your opponent, piece by piece.
And oh, these heavy jabs and hooks! It was like Tanaka had a vendetta in opposition to Bacasegua’s head and physique, touchdown blows that might make anybody else rethink their profession decisions. Bacasegua, bless his coronary heart, saved strolling into traps set by Tanaka, consuming left hooks, uppercuts, and physique pictures That uppercut within the nook? Image-perfect.
By the later rounds, it was clear Tanaka was placing on a clinic. These triple left hooks had been a factor of magnificence, a testomony to his talent and relentless pursuit of victory. Bacasegua, powerful as nails, saved urgent on, however it was evident the tide had turned irrevocably in Tanaka’s favor.
Within the eighth, a physique shot adopted by a headshot had Bacasegua doing the one-glove contact of disgrace. Tanaka saved dismantling Bacasegua with a surgeon’s precision, touchdown combos, upjabs, counter hooks, and people devastating physique pictures that echoed by the world.
By the ultimate spherical, Bacasegua was in survival mode, clinching for pricey life, hoping to listen to the ultimate bell. However Tanaka, ever the predator, saved the strain on, touchdown brutal one-twos till the very finish. My scorecard? 119-108 for Tanaka. The juges scored the struggle 119-108, 117-111, 116-111 in favor of Tanaka, who’s now a 4 weight world champ.
That is a NASTY Tanaka uppercut. #InoueAncajas x #SantiagoNakatani pic.twitter.com/Wl22FgIfj6
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 24, 2024
– Should you blinked, you most likely missed it. Riku Masuda determined to chop his workday quick by knocking Jonas Sultan into subsequent week with a devastating physique punch, simply 2 minutes and 21 seconds into Spherical 1. I imply, why hassle with an extended struggle when you possibly can simply get it over with earlier than your espresso will get chilly, proper?
Everybody was all set for for the primary good showdown of the evening (morning..), prepared for some back-and-forth, some drama, perhaps even slightly sweat. However Masuda, clearly having different plans, should’ve thought, “Nah, let’s simply wrap this up. I’ve bought locations to be.” And similar to that, Sultan was most likely left questioning if he by chance walked right into a pace courting occasion as a substitute of a boxing ring.
AND WE’RE OFF!! WHAT A BODY SHOT 😱#InoueAncajas #SantiagoNakatani | Reside on @ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/SY2Wz8MR9P
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 24, 2024
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Alexandro Santiago won’t be the tallest at 5’2.5″, however with a 65-inch attain, he’s no stranger to asserting dominance. His ring journey contains 36 fights, notching 28 victories, going through 3 defeats, and settling for five attracts, with 14 wins sealed by knockout. Then there’s Junto Nakatani from Japan, standing taller at 5’7″ with arms stretching 67 inches. His document is spotless over 26 bouts, claiming victory in all with 19 by knockout, asserting his powerful presence within the sq. circle.
Takuma Inoue, one other Japanese fighter, boasts an admirable document with 18 wins, 1 loss, and 4 knockouts from 19 bouts, standing at 5′ 4.5″ with a attain of 64 inches. Jerwin Ancajas from the Philippines brings a extra seasoned document to the desk with 34 wins, 3 losses, and a pair of attracts from 39 fights, and has delivered 23 knockouts, standing barely taller at 5′ 6″ with a 66.5″ attain.
What Time Is Inoue vs. Ancajas, Santiago vs. Nakatani?
Occasion: Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas
Date: Saturday, February 24
US Begin Time: 4 am ET
UK Begin Time: 9 am UK time
Primary Occasion Ringwalks (Approx.): 6 am ET / 11 am UK time
Inoue’s Ringwalk (Seemingly): 5 am ET / 10 am UK time
Broadcast: LIVE on ESPN+ within the U.S.
Inoue vs. Ancajas, Santiago vs. Nakatani Combat Card & Weights
WBA bantamweight title boutTakuma Inoue 117.75Jerwin Ancajas 117.75
WBC bantamweight title boutAlejandro Santiago 117.75Junto Nakatani 117.5
WBO junior bantamweight title boutKosei Tanaka 114.75Christian Bacasegua 114.75
