The day after their respective victories in the triple world title event, the three world champions—Shokichi Iwata (Teiken), who successfully defended his WBC light-flyweight title for the first time; Kenshiro Teraji (BMB), who captured a world title in a third weight division; and Riku Masuda (Teiken), who emerged victorious in a close contest against Daigo Higa (Shisei)—gathered for a press conference at the Teiken Boxing Gym on the 21st.
左から寺地、増田、岩田の３王者（帝拳ジムで）
Teraji Eyes Unification Bouts After Securing Third-Division Title
Teraji, who delivered a decisive victory after dropping Israel Gonzalez (Mexico) twice during the bout, shared his immediate impressions: “I feel both thrilled to have achieved a world title in a third weight division and deeply relieved.” Despite his extensive experience as a long-reigning world champion, the victory carried significant weight, serving as both a comeback contest after a one-year absence and a major title challenge across three divisions. Trainer Kenta Kato reflected on the journey, stating, “There were difficult moments, such as the fight cancellation late last year, but he remained focused without losing his way.”
Looking ahead, Teraji has set his sights on unification contests. Capturing two belts in a third weight class would mark a historic first for a Japanese boxer. With the super-flyweight division stacked with talent, potential matchups offer compelling prospects for international fight fans.
Rapidly Evolving Iwata Targets Elite Champions
Iwata, who successfully repelled the challenge of Erik Badillo (Mexico), commented: “If regaining the world title was part one, I viewed this first defense as part two. I entered the ring with an exceptionally high level of focus.” Rather than relying solely on individual power shots, Iwata executed a strategic, footwork-oriented approach featuring sharp in-and-out movement—building seamlessly upon the performance that earned him the title in his previous contest. Despite suffering the first knockdown of his professional career, he fulfilled his pre-fight declaration, overcoming mid-fight adversity to secure a late-round TKO victory in a highly competitive bout. “Having defeated an undefeated number-one mandatory challenger, I want to face even stronger champions next,” Iwata stated, displaying elevated ambition after rectifying his previous setback during his WBO reign, where he failed to register a initial defense.
The Teiken corner offered high praise for the champion’s execution. “No matter how much you practice, it is meaningless unless executed in the ring,” noted representative Tsuyoshi Hamada, while trainer Sendai Tanaka added, “He transferred everything we worked on in training directly into the fight.” Iwata demonstrated his ongoing commitment, stating, “I want to resume training immediately.”
Masuda Pledges Continued Progress, Targets Seiya Tsutsumi
Masuda, who captured the WBA bantamweight regular title via a hard-fought split decision over Daigo Higa following twelve rounds of action, expressed relief: “I am relieved to have secured the victory safely.” Maintaining a resolute demeanor, he added, “I intend to keep working diligently to display boxing worthy of this belt.”
After establishing an early lead, Masuda faced a strong mid-fight resurgence from Higa before mounting a final offensive in the closing rounds to seal the verdict. Facing an opponent who had meticulously prepared for his straight left hand, Masuda’s patience and tactical composure proved decisive—a factor that carried added value given the overwhelming crowd support for Higa noted by representative Tsuyoshi Hamada.
Humble despite the victory due to his inability to secure his signature knockout finish, Masuda remarked that he was “not yet worthy of the belt.” However, when questioned regarding a potential matchup with champion-in-recess Seiya Tsutsumi (Kadoebi Houseki), Masuda offered a direct response: “I want to settle in the ring who the true champion is.”
