On May 4 (May 5 Japan time), Top Rank held an event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, USA. In a 10-round featherweight bout, OPBF Featherweight Champion Kenshi Nakano (Teiken), ranked No. 8 by the IBF, No. 10 by both the WBA and WBC, and No. 11 by the WBO, faced former NABO champion Pedro Marquez of Puerto Rico (16 wins, 10 KOs, 1 loss). Nakano won by TKO at 1:58 of the 4th round.
It was the southpaw Nakano’s debut in a U.S. ring. Marquez entered the fight on a 15-fight winning streak. Nakano started calmly, keeping his preferred distance, extending his straight left and landing body uppercuts. Marquez’s right hand couldn’t find the target. In round two, Nakano’s one-two straight punches pierced Marquez’s guard, dropping him to the canvas. After the action resumed, Nakano scored a second knockdown with a right hook, though Marquez stood up and tried to mount a counterattack.
In round three, Nakano dropped Marquez again with a straight left. Marquez once again got up and swung aggressively with both hands, but Nakano read him well and countered with another sharp left.
In the fourth round, Marquez landed a sharp right straight following a jab, briefly pressuring Nakano. However, Nakano remained composed and landed a straight left followed by a right hook to the body, scoring another knockdown. Marquez got back up, but another right hook to the body sent him crashing down again, prompting the referee to stop the fight immediately.
Nakano scored a complete victory by knocking down Marquez—a fighter who had never been down before—five times. His straight left hand, which slipped cleanly through the gaps in Marquez’s guard, was superb. It was a performance that hinted at world championship potential.
In the co-main event, a 10-round bout for the vacant WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title, Rohan Polanco (Dominican Republic), ranked No. 10 by the WBO and No. 15 by the WBC, faced former world title challenger Fabian Maidana (Argentina), who entered the fight with a record of 24 wins (18 KOs) and 3 losses. Polanco, an Olympian who turned pro after the Tokyo Games and signed with Top Rank in December 2022, remained undefeated (15-0, 10 KOs) with a unanimous decision victory.
The 26-year-old rising star Polanco showed no fear against the more experienced Maidana. From the opening round, he applied pressure, throwing jabs and landing strong right straights. In round two, as Maidana tried to push forward, Polanco countered effectively with a powerful right hand from a tight guard.
In round three, Maidana tried to time Polanco’s forward pressure with his signature right-hand counters, but Polanco continued advancing, landing body shots followed by straight rights. In the fourth, Polanco increased his pressure, driving in heavy right hands with his whole body. Maidana, backed against the ropes, tried to land counters but appeared to be hurt.
By the fifth, Maidana was visibly retreating under Polanco’s pressure. Polanco landed stiff jabs and heavy right hands. Maidana opened the sixth with aggression, but Polanco quickly regained control and resumed his attack.
In the seventh, Maidana had no choice but to retreat. Cornered on the ropes, he absorbed Polanco’s combinations and was staggered by a left hook. The eighth round was one-sided, with Maidana barely hanging on and missing wildly with his occasional punches.
In the ninth, Maidana made a desperate attempt to come forward, but Polanco’s powerful jab pushed him back, rendering him ineffective. In the final round, Polanco went for the knockout. With 30 seconds left, a right uppercut to the body dropped Maidana. He beat the count at nine and survived until the final bell under intense pressure from Polanco.
All three judges scored the bout 100-89 for Polanco.
In an 8-round bout for the vacant NABF Junior Super Lightweight title, Emiliano Vargas (USA), the undefeated son of former WBA & IBF World Super Welterweight Champion Fernando Vargas, faced Juan León (Spain), who entered with a record of 11 wins (2 KOs), 2 losses, and 1 draw. Vargas secured a TKO victory at 1:40 of the second round, improving his record to 13-0 (11 KOs).
In the opening round, Vargas showcased his speed, closing the distance with crisp one-two combinations. León, however, stood his ground and fought back aggressively, landing a right uppercut.
In round two, as León tried to close the gap, Vargas countered with a powerful right straight, scoring a knockdown. León got back to his feet and the fight resumed, but Vargas unleashed a vicious right hook followed by a left hook. León collapsed to the canvas, hitting the back of his head as he fell. The referee immediately stopped the fight, awarding Vargas the TKO victory.
Emiliano Vargas returned to the ring just over a month after his last fight on March 29 (March 30 Japan time), where he scored a second-round TKO victory over Giovannie Gonzalez (USA), who held a record of 20 wins (15 KOs), 8 losses, and 2 draws, at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
In a 10-round featherweight bout, Ra’eese Aleem (USA), ranked No. 7 by the IBF, faced Rudy Garcia (USA), who entered with a record of 13 wins (2 KOs), 1 loss, and 1 draw. Aleem won by unanimous decision with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 97-93.
Nakano knocking down Marquez—who had never been dropped before—five times gives a strong impression that he could be the next world champion!
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