Teraji-Budler, Nakatani-Cortes Title Fight Double Set, Sept. 18 In Tokyo
The Kenshiro Teraji-Hekkie Budler unified junior flyweight title fight now has a date.
Teraji will defend his WBC and WBA world title belts against Budler on September 18, it was officially announced Wednesday. The 12-round bout will take place at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan and will stream live on Prime Video.
Also on the card will be Junto Nakatani making a voluntary defense of the WBO world junior bantamweight title against Argi Cortes.
The 31-year-old Teraji (21-1, 13 KOs), who resides in Uji, Japan, last fought on April 8, holding off prospect Anthony Olascuaga en route to a knockout win in the ninth round. Teraji was scheduled to face WBO world titleholder Jonathan Gonzalez in a unification fight, but ended up fighting Olascuaga after Gonzalez withdrew from the fight after coming down with a case of pneumonia.
Teraji is the longtime WBC titleholder, but lost the world title belt in September 2021 when he was stopped by Masamichi Yabuki in September 2021. Teraji would exact revenge less than six months later, knocking out Yabuki in the third round.
On November 1, Teraji added the WBA world title belt, dominating Hiroto Kyoguchi before ending matters in the seventh round.
Teraji also has notable victories over Ganigan Lopez (twice), Milan Melindo, and Saul Juarez.
Budler (35-4, 11 KOs) last appeared in the ring on May 6, knocking out late-sub Wichet Sengprakhon in the opening round in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa. In his previous fight on June 25 of last year, Budler won a hard-fought decision over former world titleholder Elwin Soto.
The 35-year-old, himself a world titleholder at 105 and 108 pounds, has won his last three bouts since losing to Kyoguchi in December 2018.
Budler is trained and managed by Colin Nathan.
The southpaw Nakatani (25-0, 19 KOs), who resides in Sagamihara, Japan, won the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title on May 20, dropping Andrew Moloney twice before scoring a highlight-reel knockout win in the 12th round.
Nakatani was the WBO flyweight titlist, having defended the title three times before moving up in weight. His victory over Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. on November 1 was Nakatani’s last successful defense of the WBO world flyweight title.
Cortes (25-3-2, 10 KOs) defeated Adolfo Castillo Gonzalez by majority decision in his last bout on March 18. The Mexico City resident has won his last two fights since losing a close decision to Juan Francisco Estrada on September 3.
After beginning his career 2-2, Cortes put together a string of victories, including defeating seven unbeaten fighters.
Olascuaga (5-1, 3 KOs), who resides in Los Angeles, will return to action against Giemel Magramo of the Philippines in an eight-round bout.
Prior to the loss to Teraji, Olascuaga notched victories over Gustavo Perez Alvarez, who entered the bout unbeaten, and Marco Sustaita.
Magramo (28-3, 23 KOs) stopped Phissanu Chimsunthom in the sixth round of his last fight on May 13. The 28-year-old has won his last two fights since losing by decision to Taku Kuwahara. Magrama also has a loss to Nakatani, which took place in November 2020.
Tenshin Nasukawa (1-0) of Tokyo, who made his pro debut on April 8, will square off against Juan Flores Aceves (9-0, 7 KOs) of Tonala, Mexico in an eight-round bout.
