Do you think Masayoshi Nakatani was more a world level than Jin Sasaki ?

I don’t think he was the best recent Japanese fighter without a belt at all, but I definitely feel he was better than Jin Sasaki. Out of the recent Japanese fighters at 135/140/147, I think Hiraoka is the best to have not won a title, personally.

I view Sasaki as a journeyman who was gifted a title shot for beating relatively low level opponents in a weak domestic scene.

 

I like Sasaki but when he stepped up to world level it was clear he was out of his depth against Norman (and disclaimer, I was one who was open to Sasaki upsetting Norman). Nakatani held his own against Teo, and he always has the accolade of starching that vermin Verdejo. On balance, at world level Nakatani was more proven.

 

Japanese boxers above super bantam always/almost always fail. Theres been so many hypejobs.

 

I think Hiraoka is different. I don’t normally back Japanese guys above 130, but he looked great last time out.