By Ian S Palmer
Undefeated Kenshiro Teraji will be putting his WBC Light Flyweight Title on the line this Saturday, April 24 in Osaka when he takes on mandatory challenger and fellow Japanese native Tetsuya Hisada at the EDION Arena. Teraji has defended the belt seven times since he won it in 2017 with five of those coming by knockout. He hoped to box in December but personal problems outside of the ring put a halt to those plans. He last fought in December, 2019 when he stopped Randy Petalcorin in the fourth round. Hisada last fought in October, 2019 when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Hiroto Kyoguchi for the WBA Super World Light Flyweight crown. This is reportedly an afternoon card in Japan and should begin around 11:30 pm ET Friday night in North America and shown live on You Tube.
The 29-year-old Teraji originally won his title from Ganigan Lopez via majority decision in May, 2017 in his 10th pro fight. He then defended it by majority decision over Pedro Guevara, a fourth-round stoppage of Gilberto Pedroza and then a first-round KO over Lopez in their rematch. He followed that up with a seventh-round stoppage over Milan Melindo before beating Saul Juarez by unanimous decision and then stopping Jonathan Taconing Petalcorin both in four.
The baby-faced Shiro is nicknamed ‘Amazing Boy’ and turned pro back in 2014. He’s compiled a perfect record so far at 17-0 with 10 Kos. He’s not really known as a big hitter with a current knockout ratio of 58.8 per cent but his power definitely can’t be underestimated especially when combined with his speed. He stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a reach of 64.5 inches.
Teraji has boxed a total of 112 pro rounds and has been involved in a few close decisions in his career. He’s displayed a solid chin so far as well as good boxing skills. Sixteen of his 17 opponents have had winning records so he’s jumped in feet first as a pro. Teraji is a fine counter-puncher with a good defence and is extremely fast.
Hisada is a solid 36-year-old pro with a record of 34-10-2. He’s got a solid chin though despite his 10 defeats as he’s been stopped just once, which was by fourth-round TKO to Hiroyuki Kudaka in 2012. in fact, he had a 13-fight winning streak going before losing to Kyoguchi the last time out. He turned pro back in 2003 and has 295 rounds under his belt.
At 5-feet-4-inches tall and with a 64-inch wingspan, Hisada is just an inch shorter than the champ with a negligible half-inch reach disadvantage. He’s got decent power with 24 of his 34 wins coming by stoppage and owns a current knockout ratio of 43.5 per cent. Hisada turned pro at the age of 19 and has worked his way through the rankings.
He was just 8-4 after his first 12 bouts and then went on a 10-fight winning streak before running into Ryoichi Taguchi and dropping a six-round unanimous decision in 2011. He then won just two of his next nine bouts with two draws and five losses. Hisadi saw his record go from 18-4 at one point to 21-9-2 and then then won the vacant Japanese Light Flyweight Title in his 39th outing in 2017. He’s defended it five times since.
Prediction…
Teraji is a fine boxer with a fan-friendly style who’s 8-0 in world title fights with 5 Kos. Meanwhile, Hisada’s as tough as nails and his loss to Hiroto Kyoguchi was his first in four-years. This should be a great fight between two Japanese boxers who never give anything but 100 per cent. But with Teraji being younger and quicker and possessing a bit more power I’m expecting him to keep his belt
