Dec 27, 2025
0 min read
Nakatani remains on course for a much-anticipated 2026 showdown against Ring and undisputed junior featherweight king Naoya Inoue, though was forced into a Fight of the Year contender on his divisional debut against Sebastian Hernandez in Riyadh, Saudi...
Junto Nakatani's junior featherweight debut quickly evolved into a Fight of the Year contender, as the three-weight world champion and The Ring's No. 6-rated pound-for-pound operator was matched tough against the game Sebastian Hernandez in the Ring V chief support.
Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) found a frequent home for his uppercut early and outlanded Hernandez 142-94 over the first six rounds.
However, the unbeaten Mexican standing opposite him was edging closer and making him work tirelessly to maintain such a pace, which showed in the second-half punch stats.
Hernandez threw considerably more (568-409) and outlanded the Japanese star 179-155 over the final six rounds, leaving a debate over the judges' scorecards as to who prevailed.
Gary Kitanoski and Mike Hayel both had it 115-113 for Nakatani, closer and deservedly so in direct contrast with Nawaf Almohaimeed's wild 118-110 score.
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