Hernandez Made Nakatani Earn Every Step of His Super
Junto Nakatani defeated Sebastian Hernandez by unanimous decision on December 27, 2025, at Ring V in Riyadh. His first super bantamweight appearance ended with scores of 115–113, 115–113 and 118–110 after twelve physical rounds that left the Japanese star with a swollen right eye.
A move to 122 pounds brought immediate resistance
Nakatani arrived as a former world champion moving up from bantamweight. Hernandez provided an unbeaten opponent with the pressure and work rate to make the new division’s opening assignment difficult.
Nakatani began effectively through reach, footwork and uppercuts. Those early successes built an advantage before Hernandez started closing the distance more consistently during the middle rounds.
Hernandez’s volume forced a sustained inside battle
The Mexican kept advancing and throwing, reducing the space available for Nakatani’s longer-range work. Exchanges increasingly developed at close quarters rather than entirely at the Japanese fighter’s preferred distance.
Nakatani continued responding despite the physical demands and swelling around his eye. The contest reached its scheduled conclusion with neither man able to secure a stoppage.
Two narrow cards underlined the scale of the test
The 115–113 totals reflected a close contest, while the wider 118–110 card drew criticism. All three judges nevertheless awarded the victory to Nakatani, moving him to 32–0 with twenty-four knockouts.
Nakatani praised Hernandez’s toughness and described the experience as valuable afterward. His successful debut kept a potential Inoue meeting in view, but the night’s immediate achievement was surviving a demanding first test at the higher weight.
Sources
- WBC: Nakatani’s divisional debut and twelve-round battle
- FIGHTMAG: full card, venue and official results
- WBC: divisional move and unbeaten opponent
