Kenshiro Teraji beats Rosales to win WBC flyweight title

KENSHIRO Teraji is now a two-division world champion after stopping Cristofer Rosales in round 11 of their chief support clash at the Ariake Arena. Teraji picked up the previously vacant WBC flyweight title.

A presumed broken nose prompted the doctor to instruct referee Laurence Cole to end matters six seconds into the round. It was an understandable, compassionate decision. Teraji picked up the same WBC strap that Julio Cesar Martinez had held for five years before being stripped due to a no-contest PED controversy.

It didn’t take long for them to stand and let some heavy hands fly. Rosales appeared buzzed in the second round despite forcing the pace. Kenshiro walked him onto a nice left hook to try and seize the initiative. 

Rosales’ legs were wobbling from a crisp right hand in the third. Dancing in and out of range is Teraji’s familiar style and he sensed the stomach was open for inspection. Rosales tried to switch stances, grab and hold his way to the end of the stanza.

Rosales was on the receiving end in the fourth before landing a thumping left hand that buzzed Kenshiro and even got Canelo off his seat at ringside. 

Feinting downstairs, throwing hard upstairs, everytime Teraji closed the distance with his combinations, Rosales responded with a heavy single shot. When that pattern stopped, the writing was on the wall. The bigger man was trying to crouch and hook to the body in round seven, desperately seeking to slow down the smaller, stronger Japanese fighter.

Rosales’ nose was gushing blood in round eight, and a slow-motion replay showed why. Teraji’s jab and right hand bounced off Rosales’ face, sending blood spraying across the ring. At the end of round eight, it was officially a losing battle for the Nicaraguan, who was down 78-74 and 79-73 (twice), according to the open scoring announcement.

The following rounds were a prolonged beating for Cristofer Rosales, who just about hung in there. Canelo applauded at ringside, but even he knew that the accuracy of Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs) was too much to handle. Laurence Cole called the doctor in at the start of round 11 to have a look at Rosales (33-7, 22 KOs) and he was spared any further punishment.

“I am very relieved right now,” said Teraji after the fight.

“I was very nervous from the beginning, walking into the ring. I don’t have much memory [of the lead-up] and just happy that I was victorious. I was careful during the fight. I hope I can show you the new me and the second episode has begun.”

Teraji went on to tease a future announcement regarding title unifications, but for the rest of today, the new champ will have a well-deserved rest.