# Masayoshi Nakatani

Masayoshi Nakatani (中谷 正義, Nakatani Masayoshi, born March 8, 1989) is a Japanese professional boxer. He held the OPBF lightweight title between 2014 and 2019, and won the WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title in 2020.

## Professional career
### Early career

Nakatani fought the first 18 bouts of his professional career in his native Japan. During this time, he won the OPBF lightweight title in January 2014, and successfully defended it 11 times.

### Rise up the ranks
#### Nakatani vs. López

After compiling a perfect record of 18-0, Nakatani made his first appearance in the ring outside of Japan when he faced fellow undefeated contender Teófimo López on July 19, 2019 in Oxon Hill, Maryland in an eliminator for the IBF lightweight title. Nakatani lost a unanimous decision, with scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109.

#### Nakatani vs. Verdejo

On December 12, 2020 in Paradise, Nevada, Nakatani defeated Félix Verdejo by ninth-round technical knockout despite being down on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage to capture the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title. The bout was an exciting one, with both men exchanging two knockdowns apiece. In his post-fight interview, Nakatani stated his desire to avenge his loss to Teófimo López, who had since become unified lightweight champion: “I fought Teófimo López before and I want to fight him again. That’s why I kept going tonight. I want to go for the knockout [in a rematch with López] like I did today."

#### Nakatani vs. Lomachenko

Nakatani returned to the ring on June 26, 2021 in Paradise, Nevada to face former three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, with whom he shares a common loss to Teófimo López. Nakatani was knocked down twice en route to a ninth-round technical knockout loss.

## Professional boxing record

| 23 fights | 20 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 14 | 2 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 23 | Loss | 20–3 | Shuichiro Yoshino | KO | 6 (12), 1:14 | Nov 1, 2022 | Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan | For WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title |
| 22 | Win | 20–2 | Harmonito Dela Torre | KO | 1 (10), 1:16 | Jun 13, 2022 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 21 | Loss | 19–2 | Vasiliy Lomachenko | TKO | 9 (12), 1:48 | Jun 26, 2021 | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, US | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Félix Verdejo | TKO | 9 (10), 1:45 | Dec 12, 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Won vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title |
| 19 | Loss | 18–1 | Teófimo López | UD | 12 | Jul 19, 2019 | MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S. | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Hurricane Futa | TKO | 4 (12), 1:43 | Dec 9, 2018 | Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Izuki Tomioka | TKO | 11 (12), 2:40 | Jul 29, 2018 | Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | Amphol Suriyo | KO | 6 (12), 1:45 | Feb 24, 2018 | Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Ryan Sermona | TKO | 4 (12) | Sep 3, 2017 | Shimazu Arena, Kyoto, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Krai Setthaphon | UD | 12 | Apr 9, 2017 | Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Allan Tanada | TKO | 7 (12), 1:35 | Nov 11, 2016 | Central Gym, Kobe, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Tosho Makoto Aoki | TKO | 1 (12), 1:19 | Apr 17, 2016 | Edion Arena, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Kazuya Murata | RTD | 5 (12), 3:00 | Aug 28, 2015 | Central Gym, Kobe, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Accel Sumiyoshi | UD | 12 | Apr 5, 2015 | Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Futoshi Usami | UD | 12 | Oct 28, 2014 | Central Gym, Kobe, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Ricky Sismundo | UD | 12 | May 7, 2014 | Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, Japan | Retained OPBF lightweight title |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Yoshitaka Kato | MD | 12 | Jan 11, 2014 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Won OPBF lightweight title |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Shuhei Tsuchiya | KO | 3 (8), 1:58 | Jul 25, 2013 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Weerayuth Patangwesang | KO | 2 (8), 2:16 | Apr 26, 2013 | Central Gym, Kobe, Japan | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Ronnel Esparas | KO | 1 (8), 2:45 | Aug 12, 2012 | Central Gym, Kobe, Japan | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Roel Laguna | TKO | 5 (6), 1:32 | Mar 20, 2012 | IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Tetsuto Sebiyo Tonomura | UD | 6 | Oct 2, 2011 | IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Katsuhisa Shiokawa | TKO | 4 (4), 1:35 | Jun 12, 2011 | IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan | |