Junto Nakatani walks into 122 for the first time, facing Mexico’s Sebastian Hernandez. An opponent who doesn’t care about storylines or long-term planning. This fight decides whether Nakatani’s “Big Bang” style still carries danger or whether he’s simply managing the wait for Inoue.
Nakatani weighed in at 121.6, sharp and calm. Thirty-one fights. Undefeated. Titles in three divisions. Still smooth, still precise. But the last year told a quieter story. The rhythm slowed. The urgency dipped. The aggression became measured. He boxed smarter, not meaner. Against Nishida he imposed himself. Against Santiago he coasted. You can win that way, but it changes how people read you.
Hernandez Doesn’t Do Neat
Sebastian Hernandez hit 120.8. Built thick, compact, and stubborn. Twenty wins, eighteen stoppages. He walks through shots to throw his own. Against Hovhannisyan he showed more than brute force. He applied pressure without panic and stayed busy when most fighters freeze. His style isn’t pretty, but it functions.
Hernandez doesn’t respect space. He crouches under the jab and works the body until the guard opens. If Nakatani gives him time, he’ll step inside and make it uncomfortable. This is not about technique. It’s about who controls the distance.
What Could Go Wrong
The danger for Nakatani is tempo. If he stays patient too long, he invites pressure. Judges notice forward movement. Activity reads louder than accuracy. If Hernandez keeps stepping in, even half-clean shots start to count.
Nakatani has to set the tone early. Double the jab. Step off the line. Make the counter land first. If he waits, the fight slows into something ugly. He has the tools, but he can’t afford to coast.
His team knows this. They’ll want rounds banked early, not managed late. The goal isn’t to survive. It’s to remind everyone why this division still bends around him.
Likely Outcome
Early rounds belong to Nakatani. Clean work. Controlled space. Hernandez pushes anyway, absorbing punishment to stay close. By the middle rounds, the pace tells. If Nakatani keeps his feet under him, the gap widens. If he eases off, the pressure creeps back.
He likely wins on the cards. But if he leaves without marks, questions follow. At this level, clean wins aren’t enough. They want to see dominance.
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
Start time: 6 PM ET / 11 PM UK
PPV: DAZN
Venue: Riyadh