Junto Nakatani has officially served notice to the rest of the flyweight division.

Philippines' Giemel Magramo was the unfortunate casualty on the receiving end of that emphatic message, as the 22-year old Nakatani dominated from beginning to end in an 8th round stoppage to win the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) flyweight title. 

Magramo showed world-class punch resistance before finally hitting the deck late, with the fight stopped at 2:10 of round nine Friday evening at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Any concern of the fight being too much too soon for Nakatani went out the window right from the opening bell. The unbeaten southpaw from Sagamihara, Japan showed the total package in a one-sided showcase performance. Nakatani dazzled Manila's Magramo with hand speed and power in addition to the 5'7" flyweight enjoying a significant height and reach advantage. 

Nakatani targeted the body early and often, connecting with a left hand downstairs in the opening round and immediately racing in to go on the attack. Magramo wisely tied up his younger and taller foe, doing his best to ride out the storm and extend the fight some rounds. 

In a way, the 26-year old Magramo was successful on that front only if it meant prolonged punishment as a vicious trade-off.  

Magramo had his say in round two, even if not enough to win the round but still able to send a warning shot that he was not here to serve as a punching bag. The visiting Filipino connected with a body shot and right uppercut early in the frame. Nakatani showed a sturdy chin and adaptability, immediately returning fire and taking over the round with more punishing body shots.

The pattern held true over the course of the fight, with Nakatani pouring on the attack in the middle rounds. Magramo was showing signs of wear and tear by round six, though a testament to his ability to absorb that he was able to make it to this point in the fight. Nakatani continued the onslaught, connecting with uppercuts on the inside and chasing down his foe on the occasions Magramo was able to create space between the two. 

Magramo endured his first trip to the canvas in round seven, though clearly the result of a push which bordered on intentional from Nakatani who was in pure bully mode by this point. Plenty of legal in-ring punishment came of the frame as well, with Natakani landing bruising left hands upstairs while continuing to chip away at Magramo's midsection. 

Nakatani closed the show in style in round eight. Body shots continued to serve as the key to his attack, but it was a pair of straight lefts which ultimately closed the show.

Magramo remained upright until he simply could not, collapsing to the canvas late in the frame. The valiant contender made it to his feet at the count of nine, but was clearly in no condition to continue. As much was recognized by referee Nobuto Ikehara, who halted the contest at 2:10 of round eight. 

The loss snaps a seven-fight win streak—all inside the distance—for Magramo, who falls to 26-2 (20KO) in defeat. 

As for Nakatani, his career prospects couldn't be more favorable. The fierce flyweight improves—in every sense of the word—to 21-0 (16KOs).The win keeps the WBO strap in Japan, with the belt becoming available after having been vacated by three-division titlist and potential pound-for-pound entrant Kosei Tanaka earlier this year. 

The feat also comes right on time for Nakatani, a young gun in a loaded flyweight division. Two-time and reigning IBF titlist Moruti Mhtalane remains in search of a big fight, while WBC champ Julio Cesar Martinez represents the biggest payday and greatest notoriety for anyone at the weight. 

One division north comes the loaded star talent, including lineal 115-pound champion Juan Francisco Estrada, four-division and reigning titlist Roman 'Chocolatito' Gonzalez and former lineal champ Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. 

All of the aforementioned now have a new problem on their hands, depending on the direction which Nakatani next takes a career chock full of promise.

The title fight was the first to take place in Japan since the pandemic. It came three days after an earlier attempt instead sow the cancellation of a scheduled show with fans in attendance at Intex Osaka. Reigning junior flyweight titlist Hiroto Kyoguchi was forced to withdraw from a voluntary defense versus Thailand's Thankongsak Simsri after having tested positive for COVID-19.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox