Nakatani Confirms Cardenas Fight For February

Junto Nakatani will reportedly face Ramon Cardenas in February on DAZN, with the WBC bantamweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super bantamweight title potentially on the line if Naoya Inoue vacates.

According to a Bad Left Hook report citing Ronspo via Yahoo Japan, the matchup between the division's top two contenders is being lined up for early 2027. The bout would feature either an interim belt or the full championship, depending on whether Inoue moves up to featherweight before the fight takes place.

Two Heavy Hitters With Inoue History

Both fighters share recent history with pound-for-pound fixture Inoue. Nakatani pushed the champion to the brink in a May war before falling short, while Cardenas dropped Inoue in a firefight last year. Nakatani holds a 32-1 record with 24 knockouts as a four-division champion, while Cardenas brings a 28-2 mark with 15 stoppages.

The fight positions Nakatani to claim the bantamweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super bantamweight throne as Inoue prepares his expected jump to 126 pounds. DAZN's reported expansion into the Japanese market would also make the broadcast more accessible to American viewers who typically navigate fragmented coverage of cards from Japan.

An official announcement on the February date is expected in the coming weeks.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — Junto Nakatani vs Ramon Cardenas reportedly eyed for February on DAZN