Japanese World Champions Down to Four
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 20 Sep 2025
Inoue (R) and Nakatani (L) are expected to fight soon.
With Junto Nakatani vacating his two world belts at bantamweight and a slew of quite unexpected title losses, the total number of Japanese world champions is now down to just four heading into the final quarter of 2025.
It is the lowest for Japan which started the year with as high as eight.
The slump may be temporary though as Japanese fighters are prominent among those that may be chosen to fight for the world titles Nakatani left behind in moving up in weight. Two other Japanese are fighting for world titles this December.
Nakatani vacated his WBC and IBF bantamweight crowns to campaign full time at super bantamweight where he is expected to soon challenge undisputed world super bantamweight king Naoya Inoue.
In preparation for the showdown of these two Japanese current most popular and undefeated fighters, they will headline separate main events in Saudi Arabia this December. Inoue will make yet another mandatory title defense against WBC number one contender Alan Picasso of Mexico. On the other hand, Nakatani will make his super bantamweight debut against undefeated American Sebastian Hernandez.
Japanese world titlists were hit by injuries and unexpected losses surrendering their crowns. Kosei Tanaka was unseated of his WBO super flyweight title by South African Phoemele Cafu. Seiya Tsutsumi suffered injuries in his title defense against Daigo Higa and has to go on extended medical leave prompting the WBA to elevate former interim titlist Antonio Vargas as regular bantamweight champion. Kenshiro Teraji lost his two world belts at flyweight to Ricardo Sandoval and very recently WBO bantamweight titlist Yoshiki Takei was defrocked by Christian Medina by brutal knockout in Japan.
Only recent title victories by Kyusaki Takami at light flyweight and Ryusie Matsumoto at minimumweight are able to increase Japan total world champions to four holding seven world championships including Inoue's four major belts at super bantamweight.
The only Japanese world titleholders now are Naoya Inoue, WBC flyweight champion Masamachi Yabuki, Kyusaki Takami and Ryusie Matsumoto.
The Philippines trails Japan with three world champions, namely WBC minimumweight titlist Melvin Jerusalem, IBF minimumweight titleholder Pedro Taduran and WBA interim bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr.
However, Jayson Vayson is fighting for unified world titles at minimumweight against Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico tomorrow.
Meanwhile a few others headed by Manny Pacquiao are in good position to challenge for world belts later this year or early next year. They also include Charly Suarez, Mark Magsayo, Marlon Tapales and Carl Jammes Martin.
Thailand is the only other Asian country with world boxing champion in IBF light flyweight champion Thanongsak Simsri.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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