Japanese star Junto Nakatani is back in action for the first time in 2025 when he defends his WBC bantamweight title against David Cuellar.
Three-weight champion Nakatani boasts a perfect 29-0 record with 22 wins inside the distance.
Cuellar is similarly undefeated across 28 fights with 18 KOs but this assignment represents a significant step up in class as the 23-year-old boxes outside his native Mexico for the first time.
Nakatani, 27, will be keen to put on another eye-catching display at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena, the scene of many of the great Naoya Inoue’s finest performances. An all-Japanese super-fight between Nakatani and double undisputed champion Inoue, who is currently campaigning at super bantamweight, remains a tantalising possibility.
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar, exclusively on ESPN+
Another all-Japanese affair might be in Nakatani’s immediate future as Seiya Tsutsumi makes the first defence of the WBA bantamweight crown in the co-main event against Daigo Higa. Tsutsumi defeated Inoue’s brother Takuma to win the title last October and a unification with Nakatani could be on the cards if both come through unscathed.
Elsewhere on the undercard, former kickboxing champion Tenshin Nasukawa will aim to continue his rapid progress under the Queensberry Rules when he takes on Australia’s former WBO bantamweight champion and one-time Naoya Inoue foe Jason Moloney.
Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar fight card
- Junto Nakatani (c) vs. David Cuellar for the WBC bantamweight title
- Seiya Tsutsumi (c) vs. Daigo Higa for the WBA bantamweight title
- Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Jason Moloney; bantamweights
- Eigoro Akai vs. Ryuya Moriai; super middleweights
- Hayato Aiko vs. Yuki Sato; featherweights
- Ryosuke Kiuchi vs. Fuentes Kitajima; lightweights
Where to watch Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar
- Channel/live stream: ESPN+
Fight fans in the US can watch Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $11.99 on a monthly subscription and $119.99 on an annual subscription.
In the UK, the bout will be shown by Sky Sports as part of viewers’ monthly subscription to the pay TV service.
WATCH: Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar, exclusively on ESPN+
Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar start time
- Date: Monday, February 24
- Time: 4 a.m. ET | 1 a.m. PT | 7 a.m. GMT
- Main event start time (approx.): 6:30 a.m. ET | 3:30 a.m. PT | 11:30 a.m. GMT
- Location: Ariake Arena — Tokyo, Japan
The Junto Nakatani vs. David Cuellar main card airs at 4 a.m. ET. Nakatani and Cuellar should make their way to the ring around 6:30 a.m. ET, depending on how long the undercard fights last.
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