Junto Nakatani knew that enough left hands would eventually close the show.

The long weapon of the three-division titlist was enough to turn away Mexico's David Cuellar, whom Nakatani stopped in the third round. Two knockdowns paved the way for the fight's end at 2:59 of the third round in their ESPN+/Amazon Prime-Japan main event Monday evening at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

It was a rare matchup where Nakatani—at 5'8"—as the slightly shorter fighter against his 5'8 1/2" challenger.

"David Cuellar was the tallest fighter I've ever faced," Nakatani said through in-ring translator Mizuka Koike. "I was happy to get the win.

Nakatani (30-0, 23 KOs) The Ring's No. 1 bantamweight and No. 9 pound-for-pound fighter, took a measured approach in the opening round. Still, it didn't take him long to find a home for the unbeaten southpaw to find a home for the straight left hand.

Cuellar (28-1, 22 KOs), The Ring's No. 8 bantamweight, was slow out the gate in a fight that marked his first title fight, first twelve-rounder, and. first career trip outside of Mexico. His best, and perhaps only shining, moment came towards the end of the second when the Chepo Reynoso-trained contender landed a right hand upstairs.

The corner advice immediately put Nakatani on the right track. Head trainer Rudy Hernandez cautioned Nakatani against telegraphing his punches, which prompted a return to the jab. Cuellar managed a left hook around Nakatani's extended right arm but the moment was short-lived.

Nakatani pawed with his jab and followed with a straight left down the middle. Cuellar first attempted to create space and later bobbed and weaved to avoid the incoming.

Neither tactic had much success.

Nakatani closed the gap with a perfectly placed left hand to the body. It was followed by a left upstairs to put Cuellar on the canvas with 25 seconds to go in the round. Cuellar was on a knee while blood streamed from the bridge of the nose as referee Michael Griffin issued a mandatory eight count.

Cuellar beat the count but two more lefts sent him right back to the deck. This time, Griffin reached the full ten count to signal the end of the fight.

Nakatani is now 9-0 in major title fights, all but one which have ended in knockout. He has now stopped his last four opponents, all in the span of exactly one year. His WBC title reign began with a sixth-round stoppage of Alexandro Santiago on this date one year ago at Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

Naturally after any win, the immediate question is what lies ahead for the victor.

Far too many boxing media members have angled for an immediate Japanese super fight between Nakatani and four-division champ Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs), The Ring and undisputed super bantamweight king and No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter.

Such a fight will come in due time and will serve as the biggest fight ever in Japan.

That said, both fighters have remained career-driven without the other in their immediate sights.

Particularly, Nakatani is determined to unify at bantamweight, a luxury he was never afforded during title reigns at flyweight and junior bantamweight. A title unification series at 118 makes perfect sense, as all four division beltholders reside in Japan.

Nakatani was joined in the ring by one—and perhaps his very next target—in IBF titlist Ryosuke Nishida (10-0, 1 KO).

"After my last fight, I asked who's next. This time—Nishida, let's fight," Nakatani said with his countryman standing next to him as the crowd immediately reacted in awe.