Vincent Astrolabio needs 'Herculean effort' to beat Junto Nakatani, says analyst

One-time world title challenger Vincent Astrolabio will have to fight the best fight of his life when he takes on the WBC world bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, according to veteran boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino.

Astrolabio, 19-4 with 14 knockouts as a boxer, is scheduled to face the no.10 ranked boxer in The Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound rankings in hostile territory on July 20 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan. For Tolentino, the Fillipino is beyond a doubt the underdog in the upcoming fight.

"Nakatani is a very tough opponent. Let's admit it, it is a tough fight. It will take a Herculean effort from Astrolabio to actually beat this guy," Tolentino told Sparring Sessions LIVE.

"But that is the best motivation he can have right now because he is going to be a huge underdog in my opinion. I am just being honest [but] of course I would like to be proven wrong but Nakatani is going to be a very favorite in this fight."

Nakatani is yet to taste defeat as a professional boxer holding a perfect record of 27-0 with 20 knockouts. Tolentino believes Nakatani, a three-division champion at 26 years old, is one of Japan's top boxers but an upset may be possible.

"I think next to Naoya Inoue, he (Nakatani) is the hottest Japanese boxer right now. This is boxing, when they climb atop the ring it is going to be just the two of them. Why not? Astrolabio might pull it off," Tolentino stated.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News