Naoki FukudaKenshiro Teraji will be just fine with a lopsided victory in lieu of another fight-of-the-year contender.
The two-division and reigning WBA and WBC flyweight titlist made significant changes in preparation for his forthcoming title defense against California’s Ricardo Sandoval. The bout comes a little more than four months after Teraji’s thrilling 12th-round stoppage of countryman Seigo Yuri Akui in 2025’s leading candidate for fight of the year.
“It’s exciting to come out ahead in those intense fights,” Teraji told BoxingScene. “Personally, though, I’d much rather win with a lopsided victory.”
Teraji-Sandoval headlines a title fight tripleheader on Wednesday on U-Next in Japan and DAZN in the US and UK, live from Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan.
The fight will mark the second overall flyweight title defense for Teraji, 25-1 (16 KOs), and his first as the unified 112lbs champ.
Teraji, 33, was the recognized lineal champion at junior flyweight, where he also held the WBA and WBC titles before he moved up to flyweight in 2024. He is on the very short list of Japanese fighters who have unified titles at two or more weights – the four-division titlist and two-division undisputed champion Naoya Inoue is the only other fighter to accomplish that feat.
Fittingly, Teraji did so in what at the time was the third-ever unification fight between reigning titlists from Japan. His back-and-forth slugfest with Akui ultimately became a war of attrition; Teraji rallied to stop Akui with just under 90 seconds to go on the night.
“That was a fight where I really had a superior opponent from my previous bouts,” acknowledged Teraji. “He was very strong and was very well prepared for counter opportunities. I had to adjust in the second half. The fact I was able to come on strong late in the fight is a sign of my growth.
“It was mentally challenging. It was huge that I was able to win in that manner. I hope to carry that over into this upcoming fight.”
Not leaving anything to chance, Teraji spent his past training camp enhancing his skillset and adding to his repertoire. It included a visit to the US and time spent with renowned trainer Rudy Hernandez, whose clients include the unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani and WBO 112lbs titleholder Anthony Olascuaga, a former title challenger against Teraji.
Defense was a priority while getting ready for Sandoval, 26-2 (18 KOs), a first-time title challenger from Rialto, California. The experience on this stage is clearly with Teraji, who is 16-1 (11 KOs) in title fights across two weight divisions over eight years
“I do want to put on a good fight, but I’m putting the priority on winning the fight first,” Teraji noted during the final pre-fight press conference. “I also would want to go up in the pound-for-pound ranking as well so the way I win becomes important as well.
“So, I do you feel that I want to win impressively.”
By that, Teraji means in dominant fashion. The plan is to show the world that is he is a complete fighter first and foremost, and that the action side can be brought out when necessary.
Teraji’s lone career defeat came in a 10th-round knockout to Masamichi Yabuki in their thriller in September 2021. The fight was delayed by nearly two weeks after Teraji tested positive for Covid, and appeared to not be at full strength even by the rescheduled fight night.
Their rematch in March 2022 was considerably more one-sided, and a reminder that Teraji is among the best fighters in the world. That level of dominance carried over in a one-sided thrashing of then-unbeaten countryman Hiroto Kyoguchi to unify the WBA and WBC 108lbs titles in November 2022.
Knockout wins over Olascuaga and Hekkie Budler in 2023 were followed by a narrow victory over Carlos Canizalez in January 2024 in Teraji’s final fight at junior flyweight. His two fights at flyweight both ended inside the distance to run his mark to 7-0 (6 KOs) since his lone career defeat.
Sandoval, 26, has yet to be stopped in 28 pro bouts, though he has been on the canvas before. A late knockdown at the hands of David Jimenez was the difference on the scorecards between a draw and the majority decision defeat he was dealt.
Five wins have followed for the flyweight contender, who Teraji respects enough to have taken his training camp to the next level.
“I’m very well prepared for the next bout,” insisted Teraji. “It’s been a while since I faced a boxer who mainly fights in the US. Distance will be important in this fight – though it will be nice if I can get a knockout in the later rounds.”
