WBC Title Fight: Santiago vs Nakatani Betting Picks and Prediction
The 2024 boxing schedule continues to provide great events every weekend. One of the best fights this weekend will be this WBC bantamweight title matchup between champion Alexandro Santiago and two-division champion Junto Nakatani.
boxing picks and parlays set for this weekend’s boxing betting slate in the scores and odds.
Santiago vs. Nakatani Information
Alexandro Santiago vs Junto Nakatani
Location of the fight: Kokugikan Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Date & Time: February 24, 2024, 7 AM ET
How to Watch: ESPN+
Last Fight Results:
Santiago is coming off winning the vacant WBC belt over the legendary Nonito Donaire last July, via unanimous decision.
Nakatani is coming off defending his WBO junior bantamweight title against Argi Cortes in September.
Alexandro Santiago vs Junto Nakatani Betting Analysis
Alexandro Santiago
Santiago is a Mexican boxer with a professional record of 28-3-5, including 14 wins by way of KO. He is a 5’3” orthodox fighter with a 65” reach at 28 years old. He boasts a 50% KO rate and has never suffered a stoppage. Santiago made his professional debut in 2012 as a teenager and has since completed a total of 217 rounds going into this weekend.
Junto Nakatani
Nakatani is a Japanese professional boxer with a 26-0 record, including 20 wins by KO under his belt at the age of 26. He has held world titles at both flyweight and junior middleweight, trying to become a three-division champion this weekend.
Nakatani is a 5’7” southpaw with a 67” reach. He has an impressive 77% KO rate in his career and is still undefeated. Since making his debut in 2015, Nakatani has completed 130 professional rounds.
Updates
ESPN has not reported any injuries.
Alexandro Santiago vs Junto Nakatani Betting Preview
The Santiago vs Nakatani prediction and picks can’t be given until we break down the betting lines and study the film of both world champions.
Starting with the available boxing odds, Santiago is an underdog again for his second title fight–coming in at +480 against the -800 betting favorite in Japan. The safest bet is to pick over 9.5 rounds, even though it lacks great value.
After studying Santiago and his best performances, his game plan seems pretty easy to predict. He needs to close the distance on Nakatani and score points on the inside. Tying him up, making him carry his weight against the ropes, and frustrating the better puncher.
Nakatani has some serious physical advantages with his height and reach. He also uses those very well, establishing the jab and fighting from a distance where a 5’2” man like Santiago can’t touch him.
Alexandro Santiago vs Junto Nakatani Betting Pick and Prediction
After a lot of consideration due to how tough Santiago is and how different this fight could play out depending on the start of it, this prediction was very difficult to make–even though the oddsmakers make it seem one-sided.
With that being said, the official Santiago vs Nakatani prediction is that Nakatani will win by unanimous decision. Santiago needs to put on a performance of a lifetime to have a chance, but Nakatani can still win on an off night.
The length and speed of Nakatani is going to be very hard for Santiago to handle. He can make it ugly and physical, but Nakatani is such a good puncher that he can turn the tides very quickly.
The best betting pick to make will be taking Nakatani to win by decision at +194. The over 9.5-round pick doesn’t have great value, but that’s the safest bet to make. Santiago is a tough kid who has never been finished and will be ready to take some heavy shots on Saturday.
- Pick: Nakatani to win by decision +194.
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