Undefeated World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji of BMB Boxing Gym reemphasized on Apr. 25 his desire to set the Japanese world title defense record of 14 times.

Holding a press conference online at the gym in Kyoto Prefecture, western Japan, following his successful defense of the title for the eighth time with a unanimous decision over top-ranked Tetsuya Hisada of Harada Boxing Gym the preceding day at EDION Arena Osaka, Teraji, popularly known as Kenshiro, said, ‘’Although I want to capture the world titles of other sanctioning bodies as well, I hope to acquire them while defending my title. That is ideal.’’

The current Japanese record of 13 world title defenses is held by former World Boxing Association light flyweight champion Yoko Gushiken who set the record between 1976 and 1981.

Kenshiro hopes to defend his title three times a year, and if things go as planned, he can reach the 10th defense of the title within this year. But Kenshiro hastened to added, ‘’In this day and age of the coronavirus pandemic, I don’t know if things go that smoothly.’’

The 29-year-old champion has been laid off since the planned fight with Hisada has been postponed from Dec. 19 last year due to Kenshiro’s misconduct of damaging a parked car on the premises of another person in a state of inebriation after drinking alcohol at a drinking establishment in Tokyo last July. He had to obey the Japan Boxing Commission’s three-month suspension of boxer’s license, financial penalty and up to 200 hours of social engagement activities for his misconduct.

Reflecting on his Apr. 24 fight with the 36-year-old Hisada, Kenshiro said, ‘’I feel very tired and muscle pain now since it was my first fight in a long time in addition to my tense feeling.’’

Kenshiro did not deny the adverse effect of the long absence as he said, ‘’While I tried not to let my opponent ‘take a rest’ during the fight, it did not work out that way. I should have attacked him more. A bout wearing eight-ounce gloves is a little bit scary because if you are hit back, it might be a damaging blow. It’s completely different from wearing 14-ounce gloves (sparring).’’

Kenshiro, who is undefeated in his 18 bouts with 10 knockouts, said he will take a rest for the time being at his parents’ home. At present, there are no concrete schedule.