EDION Arena Osaka, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
ESPN+
Bouts 2 - Updated Fri, Jan 26 2024
Kenshiro Teraji, the reigning Ring, WBA, and WBC junior flyweight champion, is set to take on WBA mandatory challenger Carlos Canizales at Osaka's Edion Arena on January 23. Adding to the excitement, Seigo Yuri Akui will face Artem Dalakian for the WBA flyweight title in a co-feature bout. Their match was initially scheduled for November 15, but an injury to headliner Takuma Inoue led to a postponement, causing the fight to fall through. The Teiken Promotion card will also showcase the rapid ascent of junior featherweight Tenshin Nakukawa in a bout against Luis Robles. Additionally, Juiki Tatsuyoshi, following in the footsteps of his famous father Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, will take on Yuki Yonaha in another junior featherweight clash. Teraji's journey to the top has been noteworthy, claiming the Japanese and OPBF 108-pound titles early in his career. He ascended to the global stage by securing the WBC title in May 2017 with a victory over Ganigan Lopez (MD 12). He defended his title impressively eight times against opponents like Lopez (KO 2), Milan Melindo (TKO 7), Jonathan Taconing (TKO 4), and Randy Petalcorin (TKO 4). However, a hasty return from a battle with COVID-19 led to overconfidence, resulting in the loss of both his unbeaten record and title to Masamichi Yabuki (TKO 10) in September 2021.