Junto Nakatani vs Sebastian Hernandez result: Nakatani survives in war, sets up Inoue clash
Junto Nakatani faced a tough challenge in his transition to 122 lbs, yet he managed to secure a victory in an exhilarating bout against Sebastian Hernandez, paving the way for a potential 2026 matchup with Naoya Inoue. Nakatani started the fight with sharpness and precision, but after two rounds, the resilient Mexican contender dug in, raised the pressure, and turned the fight into a thrilling contest, even managing to close one of Nakatani’s eyes. Nevertheless, Nakatani can hardly be criticized for his performance here, at least not reasonably. He engaged a contender in his ascent to a new division, encountered a challenge, and demonstrated his toughness alongside an already established skill set. He needed to withstand pressure from an opponent who refused to back down, and he proved his ability to do so. In the case of Hernandez (20-1, 18 KO), even though he experienced his first defeat, his value only rises following such a fight. He not only made a compelling argument for an upset against a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter, but he also impressed as a true fighter who poured everything into the hardest fight of his career, establishing himself as a formidable contender at 122 lbs.
Nakatani vs Hernandez scorecards The judges officially scored the contest 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110, all in favor of Nakatani. The last scorecard immediately drew criticism for being excessively broad. Bad Left Hook unofficially tallied the fight 115-113 for Nakatani.
What’s next for Nakatani? Attention is now directed towards a potential high-stakes showdown with fellow countryman Inoue, marking a potential—but not guaranteed—passing of the torch from one Japanese pound-for-pound legend to another. Inoue is set to fight just moments after this piece is published, defending his undisputed super bantamweight championship against Alan Picasso. “I moved up to aim for (Inoue), and if I’m given an opportunity to fight on that stage, I’ll do my best,” Nakatani stated following his victory today.
Published: 2025-12-27 13:17:00
source: www.badlefthook.com
