World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji of B.M.B. Boxing Gym made courtesy visits to his home town and its vicinity cities in Kyoto, western Japan, on Apr. 26 following his successful defense of the titles earlier this month.

The 31-year-old Teraji stopped Anthony Olascuaga of the United States in the ninth round to retain his titles on Apr. 8 in Tokyo in a hard-fought battle.

At the city hall of Joyo, from which Teraji hails from, Teraji was given a bouquet of flowers from Mayor Toshiharu Okuda and said, ‘’I really heaved a sigh of relief after the fight. I think I became stronger thanks to that fight (with Olascuaga). I will aim at winning the third and fourth titles of the division (the World Boxing Organization and International Boxing Federation). I also have my sights set on moving up in weight to flyweight.’’

Olascuaga was chosen as a substitute for WBO light flyweight champion Jonathan Gonzalez of Puerto Rico some 10 days before the fight as Gonzalez was stricken with mycoplasma pneumonia late last month, and the planned title unification fight was called off.

Teraji has in mind a title defense against top-ranked WBC light flyweight Hekkie Budler of South Africa either in August or September. If he wins the fight, he will aim at his title unification bout, either with Gonzalez or with IBF kingpin Sivenathi Nontshinga of South Africa.

If the plans for these title unification fights fall through, Teraji said he may move up to flyweight. ‘’I will think about it after my fight with Budler,’’ he added.