Argi Cortes: record, next fight and profile →
Was getting knocked out the best thing that ever happened to Kenshiro Teraji? The results suggest it might have been. Monday in Japan, the lineal junior flyweight king made it four straight since a stunning stoppage loss to Masamichi
Junto Nakatani was extended the distance for the first time in a title fight but remained unbeaten and with his crown still in tow. The unbeaten two-division titlist made the first successful defense of his WBO junior bantamweight title of Mexico City’s Argi Cortes. Nakatani scored three knockdowns Monday evening at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
Junto Nakatani knew the fight was over the moment he landed that punch. A left hand from the Japanese southpaw flattened Australia’s Andrew Moloney in the closing seconds of their vacant WBO junior bantamweight title fight. The punch was so devastating that referee Mark Nelson stopped the fight on the spot, despite just 18 seconds left in their ESPN-aired bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The current leader at junior flyweight is moving into some special conversations. Since its inception in the 1970s, the ranks of junior flyweight champions have included several impressive Hall of Fame talents. Hilario Zapata, Jung Koo Chang, Myung-Wuh Yuh, Michael Carbajal, and Chiquita Gonzalez all earned their place among the greats. Roman Gonzalez had a sojourn in the class and will join them.
The absence of a smile from Junto Nakatani’s face was noticeable as he made weight for the first defense of his WBO junior bantamweight title reign. If nothing else, it was an instant reminder of what he previously had to endure during his time spent as the WBO flyweight titlist.
Kenshiro Teraji was once again well under the junior flyweight limit for his latest title defense. The reigning lineal and unified WBC/WBA champion clocked in at a cut-up 107.1 pounds (officially announced at 48.6 kilograms) in the presence of the Japanese Boxing Commission during Sunday’s weigh-in ceremony. Former two-division
Japan’s unified WBC/WBA light flyweight world champion Kenshiro Teraji will defend his titles against South African two-division world champion Hekkie Budler on Monday, September 18, at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
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.
Argi Cortes came dangerously close to pulling off a major upset against the world junior bantamweight champion in his previous outing. The former title challenger nearly landed on the opposite end this time around.
Estrada, Cortes Fight Photos Gallery - Hermosillo, Mexico - WBC 'franchise' super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada (43-3, 28 KOs) had a much tougher task than expected, in winning a twelve round unanimous decision over Argi Cortes (23-3-2, 10 KOs). (photos by Ed Mulholland)