Kenshiro Teraji is still in disbelief over the way he was denied the opportunity to become a three-division titlist.
However, his team has mapped out a pathway to put that fight back on the calendar.
BoxingScene has confirmed that Teraji’s team will seek an immediately rescheduled fight with IBF 115lbs titlist Willibaldo Garcia. Their previously scheduled December 27 meeting in Riyadh fell apart at the 11th hour, when Mexico’s Garcia, 23-6-2 (13 KOs) was hospitalized shortly after the ceremonial weigh-in and withdrew from the contest.
The timing left Teraji, 25-2 (16 KOs) without an opponent, and thus was reduced to the role of spectator as he watched his countryman – Naoya Inoue, Junto Nakatani and Reito Tsutsumi – all prevail on the Japanese-heavy Ring V card.
“I realized what it means to be at a loss for words,” Teraji told BoxingScene on Tuesday as he celebrated his 34th birhtday. “It felt like it took me a while for reality to sink in.”
The aim now on the Teraji side is to not let Garcia off the hook.
Teraji has not fought since his narrow defeat to Ricardo Sandoval last July 30, which ended his unified WBA/WBC flyweight title reign.
“We are asking the IBF to order a fight with Garcia,” Takashi Misako, head of Misako Boxing Gym, informed BoxingScene.
It’s a sound strategy, in theory – and one that will gain the support of many fans, including those who felt Garcia should have been stripped of his title.
Even Teraji was furious in the aftermath, when he spotted Garcia gleefully dining in the hotel restaurant at a point when his health was supposed to be at risk.
However, there is the matter of Garcia still owing the IBF a mandatory title defense.
The voluntary clash with Teraji was approved by the sanctioning body on the condition that the winner next face overdue mandatory Andrew Moloney by no later than June 25 – 180 days from the scheduled contest.
Barring any reconsideration from the IBF, that tidbit leaves Teraji – a former unified champion at 108lbs and 112lbs – on the outside of the title picture for the moment.
The only other option would be to face lineal, WBC, WBA and WBO 115lbs champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, 23-0 (16 KOs). Such a matchup could have been for the undisputed crown had Teraji been afforded the chance to face – and defeat – Garcia.
For now, though, the only matter that interests Teraji is settling unfinished business.
“For now, I would like to fight Garcia,” insisted Teraji.
The sentiment was echoed by his team.
“At the moment, the only thing on my mind is fighting Garcia,” stated Mr. Misako. “So, I'm not considering any other options (for Teraji).”
The only absolute for his next fight is that Teraji will continue his career at junior bantamweight.
He moved up to flyweight in 2014 after years of toiling in the junior flyweight division, where he won three titles over two separate reigns. His grip on the WBC title over two reigns was interrupted only by a September 2021 knockout defeat to Masamichi Yabuki.
Teraji emphatically avenged his first career defeat with a 3rd round knockout of Yabuki just six months later. That win was followed by arguably his finest hour as a pro. Teraji ran head-first into a dangerous WBA-WBC 108lbs unification clash with unbeaten Hiroti Kyoguchi, and prevailed in stunningly dominant fashion via 7th round knockout in November 2022.
His reign over the 108lbs division extended through his January 2024 decision win over Carlos Canizales, after which point he abdicated the throne and focused on the 112lbs division. Teraji won two titles in his first two fights at the weight, first in an October 2024 knockout win over former WBC titlist Cristofer Rosales.
The feat was followed by a dramatic 12th round knockout of Seigo Yuri Akui in their epic March 13 unification clash. Teraji’s reign ended with a July 30 split decision defeat to Ricardo Sandoval in Yokohama, and with it his time at flyweight.
Training without having to shed those last 3lbs for his planned clash with Garcia left Teraji confident of becoming a three-division champ.
“Physically it felt really easy,” admitted the 11-year pro. “I was able to concentrate on training.
