The vacant WBO super-flyweight championship will be contested between Kenshiro Teraji (BMB) and Israel Gonzalez (Mexico). For Teraji, the bout represents an opportunity to become a three-weight world champion, having previously held world titles at light-flyweight and flyweight.
Teraji was originally scheduled to challenge for the IBF title in Saudi Arabia last December, but the bout was cancelled after the champion at the time, Wilibaldo Garcia (Mexico), fell ill following the weigh-in. The opportunity comes six months after that setback.
The vacancy arose following Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’s (US) decision to vacate the title and move up to the bantamweight division. The 29-year-old Gonzalez enters the contest as a seasoned veteran with a record of 32-5-2 (12 KOs). Since making his professional debut in 2014 at the age of 17, Gonzalez has campaigned exclusively in this weight class. This will mark his fifth attempt at a world title, having previously fallen short against Jerwin Ancajas (Philippines), Khalid Yafai (UK), Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua), and Rodriguez. A resilient competitor noted for his aggressive body punching, Gonzalez previously secured a decision victory over Sho Ishida (Ioka) in Osaka in December 2019.
WBO王座で3階級制覇を狙う寺地
“At that time (when the Garcia bout was cancelled the day before), my mind went completely blank and it was genuinely difficult,” Teraji revealed. “However, I managed to switch my mindset surprisingly quickly and kept training with the determination to work hard until another opportunity came along.” During this period, he noted feeling that his physique has grown larger than before, expressing confidence by adding, “I feel I am better suited to the super-flyweight division now.”
Regarding his tactical assessment of the bout, Teraji stated, “My impression of Gonzalez is that his distance is a little far. It might take some time to close the gap, but I hope to gradually bring him into my own range.”
Advance ticket sales for “U-NEXT BOXING 6” commenced today at 18:00 via Lawson Ticket. Ticket tiers are priced at 55,000 yen, 33,000 yen, 44,000 yen (two-person ringside box), 22,000 yen, and 11,000 yen.
