WBA, WBC FLYWEIGHT KING KENSHIRO TERAJI-RICARDO SANDOVAL LEADS JAPANESE TRIPLEHEADER ON JULY 30
Earlier today, it was announced in Japan that WBA and WBC flyweight titlist Kenshiro Teraji will defend his unified titles against Ricardo Sandoval at the Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama, Japan on July 30.
The tripleheader will also see newly minted WBA bantamweight beltholder Antonio Vargas defend his title for the first time against former flyweight champion Daigo Higa.
Meanwhile, Erick Rosa will similarly put his WBA junior flyweight crown on the line for the first time against rising Japanese fighter Kyosuke Takami.
Teraji (25-1, 16 KOs), The Ring's No. 1-rated flyweight, won the Japanese and OPBF titles inside eight fights. Soon afterward, "The Amazing Boy" stepped up to the world scene and claimed the WBC title in May 2017, edging past Ganigan Lopez via 12-round majority decision.
Teraji improved immeasurably with the world title win, making eight consecutive defences including a second-round knockout in his Lopez rematch twelve months later. Pedro Guevara (MD12), Milan Melindo (TKO7) and Jonathan Taconing (TKO4) were among the other contenders expertly bested by an ever-improving, active champion.
However, overconfidence saw him return from a bout of coronavirus too quickly, losing his unbeaten record and title in a tenth-round knockout defeat by Masamichi Yabuki in September 2021. To his credit, Teraji doubled down and showed his class and an extra edge we hadn't seen previously by blitzing Yabuki with a third-round knockout six months ago, regaining the title and securing sweet revenge.
He then upped his game again and scored a career-best win over previously unbeaten Hiroto Kyoguchi (TKO7) to claim The Ring and WBA titles. He defended his titles against late sub-Anthony Olascuaga (TKO9), Hekkie Budler (TKO9) and Carlos Canizales (MD12).
The Kyoto native then moved to flyweight where he has beaten Cristofer Rosales (TKO11) for the vacant WBC title, before adding the WBA strap after producing a dramatic come-from-behind victory by stopping Seigo Yuri Akui in the final round of their March matchup.
Sandoval (26-2, 18 KOs), The Ring's No. 5-rated flyweight, turned professional across the border in Mexico in 2016. He bounced back from an early defeat and scored wins over once-beaten Oscar Vasquez (UD8) and stopped experienced Raymond Tabugon (KO7) before travelling to the UK and beating former world title challenger Jay Harris in an IBF eliminator.
The 26-year-old Californian took a gamble that didn't pay off when facing unheralded David Jimenez, suffering a 12-round majority decision defeat. However, "El Nino" has since returned with six wins, including stoppages over experienced former world title challenger Carlos Buitrago (RTD8) and former junior flyweight titleholder Angel Acosta (KO10).
Vargas (19-1, 11 KOs), The Ring's No. 10-rated bantamweight, was a good amateur who represented America at the 2016 Olympics. After notching ten consecutive wins, he was stunningly upset in a first-round knockout defeat by Jose Maria Cardenas.
He has rebounded strongly with ten victories, beating faded former flyweight titleholder Hernan Marquez (UD10), streaking fringe contender Jonathan Rodriguez (RTD7) and, most recently, Winston Guerrero (TKO10) for the WBA Interim title and has since been upgraded to full champion.
Higa (21-3-2, 19 KO), The Ring's No. 5-rated player at 118-pounds, burst onto the scene beating his first 12 opponents all inside the distance while claiming WBC regional and OPBF titles at flyweight.
At 21, he landed a fight with Juan Hernandez for the WBC title and bludgeoned him into defeat in six rounds. He made two defenses and seemed primed for a long reign. However, a quick turnaround and failed weight saw him upset by Cristofer Rosales (TKO9).
He didn't fight for 22 months and returned at bantamweight. In his second bout back, he drew with Seiya Tsutsumi before dropping a lopsided 12-round decision to now-former IBF champion Ryosuke Nishida. After a 15-month layoff, he returned to reel off four victories before being narrowly beaten over twelve rounds in a WBO title fight by Yoshiki Takei and most recently, held then-WBA ruler Tsutsumi to a draw over the same distance.
Rosa (8-0, 2 KOs), The Ring's No. 8-rated junior flyweight, had a successful amateur career before turning pro in October 2020. The ambitious 25-year-old Dominican Republic-born southpaw impressively dominated 105-pound stalwart Byron Castellon (UD10) in his second outing and followed that by stopping one-time prospect Kenny Cano in three rounds.
Those wins positioned him to face unbeaten Peruvian Ricardo Astuvilca. Although Rosa was dropped in the fourth, his slick skills saw him ultimately win a 12-round unanimous decision. Affectionately nicknamed "Mini Pacman", he continued to be matched aggressively and edged beyond former WBO 105-pound ruler Vic Saludar over the championship distance.
However, for a myriad of reasons Rosa was unable to consummate a fight with long-reigning WBA titlist Knockout CP Freshmart. After a 20-month hiatus, he resurfaced at 108-pounds and in his second fight bested Neider Aguilar (UD12) for the vacant WBA title.
Takami (9-0, 7 KOs), rated at No. 10 by The Ring at junior flyweight, was a good amateur before turning to the paid ranks in July 2022. Since then, he has also moved quickly and stopped grizzled veteran Kenichi Horikawa (TKO6) in March 2024. 15 months later, he's booked to fight for world honours.
The 23-year-old won the Japanese title against Toshiki Kawamitsu, stopping him in the same round on April 8.
