The relationship between Junto Nakatani and Masayoshi Nakatani has been assumed to be a brotherhood, given the similarity in their name and profession.
Junto Nakatani, born in 1998 in Toin, Mie, Japan, is a Japanese professional boxer who has achieved world championships in two weight classes.
He held the WBO flyweight title from 2020 to 2022 and the WBO junior-bantamweight title in 2023.
Competing in the flyweight and super flyweight divisions, Nakatani utilizes a southpaw stance and stands at 5’8″ tall, boasting a record of 26 wins.
In contrast, Masayoshi Nakatani, born in 1989 in Osaka, Osaka, Japan, is also a Japanese professional boxer.
Masayoshi held the OPBF lightweight title from 2014 to 2019 and clinched the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title in 2020.
Nakatani competes in the lightweight division, standing at a height of 5’11”. His professional record includes 20 wins and 3 losses.
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Junto Nakatani Brother: Is He Related To Masayoshi Nakatani?
No, Junto Nakatani is not connected to Masayoshi Nakatani, and they are not related despite sharing the same surname.
While the Nakatani surname is relatively common in Japan, it’s important to note that having the same last name does not necessarily imply a familial relationship.
In Japan, surnames often stem from factors like geography, occupation, or personal traits, leading to unrelated individuals sharing the same surname.
Therefore, while it may seem coincidental that both Junto and Masayoshi bear the Nakatani surname, there is no evidence to suggest that they are part of the same family tree.
Their lack of familial connection is further supported by the fact that they pursue different professional careers in boxing, with each carving out their path independently.
Junto, born in 1998, won world championships in two weight divisions, holding the WBO flyweight title from 2020 to 2022 and the WBO junior-bantamweight title in 2023.
Masayoshi, born in 1989, also a Japanese pro boxer held the OPBF lightweight title from 2014 to 2019 and won the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title in 2020.
Junto Nakatani And Masayoshi Nakatani: Boxing Career
Junto Nakatani embarked on his boxing journey on April 26, 2015, with a decisive first-round technical knockout victory over Junichi Itoga at the Industrial Hall in Gifu, Japan.
Following this, he achieved an impressive 9-0 record and secured a spot in the flyweight rankings by the JBC after defeating Masamichi Yabuki.
Nakatani defeated Atiwit Munyapho with a second-round technical knockout in the opening round of the Japanese flyweight Youth Tournament on February 19, 2017.
Nakatani triumphed over Joel Taduran and Yuma Kudo before winning the tournament finals against Seigo Yuri Akui, earning him the MVP title.
Nakatani won his next four fights, including securing the vacant Japanese flyweight title with a ninth-round technical knockout against Naoki Mochizuki.
In his next bout, Nakatani scored a first-round knockout against Philip Luis Cuerdo on June 1, 2019, but relinquished the Japanese flyweight title on July 23, 2019.
He then faced former IBF and IBO light flyweight champion Milan Melindo on October 5, 2019, defeating him with a sixth-round technical knockout.
Later, on January 1, 2023, the WBO super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka was mandated by the sanctioning body to defend his title against Nakatani.
However, Masayoshi Nakatani began his professional boxing career in Japan, competing in his first 18 bouts in his home country.
During this period, he attained the OPBF lightweight title in January 2014 and defended it successfully on 11 occasions.
With an unblemished record of 18-0, Nakatani ventured outside Japan for the first time to battle fellow undefeated boxer Teófimo López on July 19, 2019, in Oxon Hill, Maryland.
On June 26, 2021, in Paradise, Nevada, Nakatani fought Vasiliy Lomachenko, another boxer who had also lost to Teófimo López.
In a challenging contest, Nakatani endured two knockdowns before succumbing to a ninth-round technical knockout defeat.
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