You’ve heard it many times: Styles make fights. There are certain similarities and strategic considerations that fighters must address with every match. One such scenario is the open-stance battle, where a right-handed boxer (orthodox) fights a left-handed opponent (southpaw).
We will see two of those matchups on Saturday, when Takuma Inoue (orthodox) defends his WBA bantamweight title against former junior bantamweight champ Jerwin Ancajas (southpaw), and WBC bantamweight champion Alexandro Santiago (orthodox) faces two-division champion Junto Nakatani (southpaw), who’s moving up in weight, in Tokyo (ESPN+, 4 a.m. ET).
This kind of matchup requires a boxer to follow strategic guidelines in positioning, balance and timing. This is unlike a closed-stance battle between two orthodox boxers or two southpaws, where the fighters’ lead foot and hand align on opposite sides, making the jab, counters and body shots easier to land for either boxer.
The angles of attack are different in an open-stance fight. The alignment of both fighters’ lead hand and foot on the same side makes offense challenging. Feet can become tangled, and when punches are thrown, the fighters’ heads align on the same side, creating the possibility of a head-on collision. This makes executing hooks and body punches difficult. Specific strategies and techniques are necessary to navigate the angles, like hand- and lead-foot dominance (keeping one’s lead foot outside the opponent’s lead foot).
At the same time, lead-hand dominance in an open-stance fight is a jousting battle similar to fencing. Both fighters look for a higher angle of attack, keeping their jab hand elevated above their opponent’s. Some may adopt a lower angle of attack, like southpaw unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who jabs upward between the guards of his orthodox opponents.
Success in an open-stance battle depends on many factors, such as educated footwork, positioning, impeccable timing, punch selection and defensive responsibilities. All these elements shape the dynamic nature of this tactical and technical contest. Let’s break down Saturday’s two matchups.
The matchups
There are two thrilling matchups this weekend featuring three current world champions and one former world champion.
In the co-main event is Nakatani, who is renowned for his masterful southpaw boxing skills and punching power. He made headlines in 2023 with a stunning one-punch KO — ESPN’s best of the year — against former champion Andrew Moloney. Following this remarkable victory, Nakatani recently secured a stay-busy 12-round unanimous decision win over Argi Cortes to defend the WBO junior bantamweight belt, demonstrating his exceptional skill and versatility inside the ring.
Opposing Nakatani this time is the dangerous Santiago, a challenging and rugged champion who holds a title just three pounds north of the division Nakatani last competed in. Santiago, known for his relentless determination and impressive track record, recently defeated the legendary Nonito Donaire in an action-packed display of wills to win the vacant title in July.
In the main event, the newly crowned Inoue steps into the ring to defend his title for the first time. With an impressive record of 18-1, with four victories by knockout, the 28-year-old carries the weight of expectations as the younger brother of the renowned Naoya Inoue, ESPN’s No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter, adding an extra layer of anticipation and pressure to this high-stakes showdown.
Challenging Inoue will be Ancajas, a skilled southpaw boxer-puncher holding a wealth of experience and knockout punching power. Motivated by the opportunity to secure his second world title in a new weight class, the 32-year-old Ancajas is fueled to make his mark in the bantamweight division.
Ancajas used his experience and explosiveness in June at 118 pounds, where he disarmed journeyman Wilner Soto, producing a TKO victory after five intense rounds. He showcased his level as a boxer, great adaptability and hunger for success. As Ancajas tests his skills against a younger, faster orthodox champion in Takuma, and Nakatani takes on Santiago, boxing fans can expect a two-part masterclass in strategy, speed, power, on-the-fly adjustments and sheer tenacity at the highest level of boxing.
Alexandro Santiago vs. Junto Nakatani
What Nakatani brings to the fight
Nakatani possesses an impressive physical stature for the division, standing at 5-foot-7½ with an expansive reach of 67 inches. His fighting style is characterized by his ability to utilize his height advantage, employing his lead hand to control and manipulate opponents while effectively scoring points from a distance and thwarting counterattacks. Defensively, Nakatani has a wide and aggressive stance, positioning his feet past his shoulders to create a barrier against opponents seeking lead foot dominance. This stance also shifts his centerline backward, making it difficult for adversaries to close the distance and land punches effectively. Additionally, his widened stance lowers his center of gravity, giving him an explosive step, moving forward or backward. Plus, it protects him from unexpected looping punches often utilized by shorter opponents.
Nakatani’s tactical approach is drawn up specifically for his opponents to overextend themselves, leading them to reach and lunge in desperation as he controls distance. He is ultimately setting them up for his trademark finishing blow — the left cross either in the form of an uppercut or a looping punch. This strategic method allows him to control the fight’s pace and exploit openings created by his frustrated opponents’ reckless maneuvers. Look out for the mean left coming from the southpaw champion. It’s lethal.
Santiago’s strengths
With a record of 28-3-5, including 14 knockouts, Santiago has followed a path in which nothing has been handed to him. His five draws, all in tightly contested battles, could have easily favored him. Among these, Santiago battled the southpaw Ancajas in 2019 to a standstill. He also narrowly lost a majority decision to the promising young southpaw Gary Antonio Russell. Yet, Santiago’s latest victory was spectacular as he outfoxed and outpaced the seasoned champion Donaire to claim the title.
Santiago brings to the ring a textbook blend of relentlessness yet measured aggression backed by elusive defensive skills. Standing 5-foot-2 with a 65½-inch reach, Santiago employs a varied set of tactics against taller southpaws to close the distance. His use of upper body and head movement, precise footwork for positioning and strategic lead hand controls, particularly in jousting exchanges with southpaws, highlights his ring craftiness. However, Santiago has struggled to secure lead foot dominance against southpaws in the past, often moving to his right and into range of his opponent’s power left.
Although it goes against the conventional wisdom of boxing, this strategy involves combating the left cross by evading it, either dipping beneath or slipping outside it to unleash a right-hand counter to the head or body. If miscalculated, a fighter opting to use this maneuver is in danger of being hit by the left cross from the southpaw. Santiago runs the risk depending on his timing and pressure, which work in unison. Santiago is like a snake charmer plotting forward intelligently, forcing mistakes and injecting a sense of urgency, effectively shrinking the ring to corner his foes. His signature left hook to the liver will be targeted at the exposed right side of a southpaw, and his various right hands will complement it. Santiago’s tactics will be critical against Nakatani. However, there is no doubt he will need to execute with pressure and try to force an inside fight.
Who wins?
While Santiago possesses a determined mindset, Nakatani’s versatility presents a puzzling challenge. Nakatani’s well-rounded skill set allows him to excel in close quarters, delivering a variety of vicious punches to the head and body. Santiago’s struggle to adapt to a southpaw stance in the past is a cause for concern, leaving him vulnerable to Nakatani’s left hand as he walks right into that power. Despite my concerns, if Santiago can effectively evade Nakatani’s left cross, close the distance and work his shorter punches to his advantage on the inside, there is a path to victory. It will require him to stay mentally committed, withstand Nakatani’s dangerous counters and strategically apply pressure with physical tactics. Nonetheless, Nakatani’s exceptional talent and prowess position him as a top fighter. As such, I foresee Nakatani claiming victory by decision.
Takuma Inoue vs. Jerwin Ancajas
Inoue’s technique
Inoue, 28, possesses a contrasting style to his sibling. While he wasn’t born with the same devastating punching power as the four-weight champion and two-division undisputed champion, Takuma has an arsenal of exceptional technical skills and abilities. As a pure boxer, he relies on his remarkable hand speed, agility, footwork, positioning, reflexes and solid fundamental techniques. His fighting demeanor is constant motion and rapid reaction, utilizing feints and advantageous positioning to excel through tempo and rhythm changes.
Like his brother, Takuma executes smooth strikes and swift exits, prioritizing evasion over direct exchanges. One of the most remarkable strengths of the Inoue brothers lies in their extraordinary balance and coordination, allowing for seamless transitions between offense and defense, making their boxing style easy on the eyes. Against the southpaw Ancajas, look for Takuma to employ the step-back method to neutralize his opponent’s straight left hand. This strategic maneuver is similar to pulling a chair from beneath someone about to sit down. It enables Takuma to not only evade his opponent’s punches but also create an opening for a surprise counterattack. Given the righty-versus-lefty matchup, Takuma will utilize precise footwork and head movement to set traps and capitalize on openings to deliver his powerful right cross and left hook.
Ancajas’ experience — and power
Ancajas boasts a record of 34-3-2, with 23 victories coming by knockout. He remains a dangerous challenger due to his explosive punching power. As a southpaw, he is a technical boxer-puncher who’s seasoned inside the ring. Despite concerns that his best days could be in the rearview mirror, Ancajas possesses grit often seen in battle-hardened fighters who, with the right spark of opportunity, can muster up one more remarkable performance to seize a world title.
While Ancajas, 32, is not old, a decline in his punch output suggests a physical shift from his earlier days. A fighter’s mind is the first thing that can slip, but punching power remains relevant. Ancajas’ power is no mystery in the boxing world, especially when he unleashes it through his educated jab. He delivers a power jab, stepping in and pushing off his back foot to connect his punch with momentum and body weight. He uses a stabbing jab to the body, a tactical level-changing punch designed to lower his opponent’s guard, quickly paving the way for his signature left cross.
Ancajas maintains a steady and stable base, the foundation of his power. He is sound defensively, keeping his hands up while remaining posed. He continuously measures distance and calculates timing as he adapts to the ebb and flow of fights. Once he finds his rhythm, he quickly seeks an opening to deliver his left cross. However, his eagerness can sometimes lead to overextending and a forced backhand cross, leaving him vulnerable.
With his long arms extending to a 66½-inch reach and him standing at 5-foot-6, Ancajas holds a slight height and reach advantage over the current champion. I expect he will target Inoue’s body, a plan that may work and have devastating effects. Body shots can disrupt mobility and sap stamina later in the fight. Look for Ancajas to exploit this strategic approach as he viciously seeks his second-world title opportunity.
Who wins?
Inoue’s apparent lack of punching power is a cause for concern, as it may affect the level of respect he commands in the ring. The real question is whether his technical skill can keep Ancajas at a distance. Inoue, the champion, suffered a single defeat before claiming his world championship, facing a skilled opponent who applied pressure from a southpaw stance and outworked him. For victory, Inoue must execute a flawless performance throughout the fight. He does possess the tools for facing and defeating a southpaw opponent. If he can effectively outmaneuver Ancajas’ power, Inoue stands a good chance of winning. If the fight goes the distance and the decision rests with the judges after 12 rounds, Inoue should secure a narrow victory. The adage “make him miss and make him pay” applies here.
