A path has been cleared for multi-belt junior flyweight unification match
BoxingScene.com has discovered that Kenshiro ‘The Wonderful Boy’ Teraji and Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez are all however set to happen in April at a venue to be decided in Japan. Teraji will danger his lineal junior flyweight championship and WBC and WBA titles, whereas Puerto Rico’s Gonzalez will as soon as once more journey overseas together with his WBO belt in tow.
Representatives for each boxers didn’t reply to inquiries from BoxingScene.com searching for remark or verification as this goes to publication.
Main progress was made previously week or so, when frequent floor was discovered on monetary phrases for the first-ever three-belt junior flyweight unification bout. The division has by no means boasted an undisputed champion courting again to its 1975 relaunch.
Each have been confronted with the specter of necessary title defenses looming, although extra so for Teraji (20-1, 12KOs) within the wake of his stunningly one-sided, seventh-round knockout of then-unbeaten countryman Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-1, 11KOs). Teraji made the primary protection of his second WBC reign after he regained the belt earlier this 12 months and gained the WBA title of their November 1 unification bout at Saitama (Japan) Tremendous Area.
The identical present noticed Gonzalez (27-3-1, 15KOs) defend his WBO belt for the second time following a twelve-round, unanimous determination victory over Tokyo’s Shokichi Iwata (9-1, 6KOs).
As beforehand reported by BoxingScene.com, Teraji-Gonzalez was already being explored instantly after the 2 shared the stage. Nonetheless, Teraji was reminded of an awaiting necessary title problem obligation on November 9 throughout the annual WBC conference in Acapulco, Mexico. Former unified titlist Hekkie Budler (34-4, 10KOs) punched his means again into rivalry following a twelve-round, unanimous determination over former WBO titileholder Elwin Soto final June 25 on the street in Mexicali, Mexico.
In a growth first reported by Punch Good Boxing podcast host Jamie Bourne, South Africa’s Budler agreed to an undisclosed step-aside charge in lieu of implementing his necessary.
The transfer allowed Teraji to now enter his second consecutive unification bout after regaining his WBC title in a third-round knockout of countryman Masamichi Yabuki on March 19 in Kyoto. The win avenged his lone profession defeat, a tenth-round knockout to Yabuki of their Battle of the Yr contender final September 22 additionally in Kyoto. The loss ended Teraji’s first reign, courting again to Might 2017 and with eight profitable title defenses. The 31-year-old from Kyoyo is now 11-1 with seven knockouts in twelve profession title fights.
Gonzalez (27-3-1, 15KOs) made his most up-to-date title protection on the Teraji-Kyoguchi undercard, the place he outpointed beforehand unbeaten Shokichi Iwata (9-1, 6KOs) over twelve rounds. The win by the 31-year-old southpaw got here greater than a 12 months after dethroning Soto by way of twelve-round, break up determination on an October 2021 DAZN present in Fresno, California.
Wedged in between was his first protection and the closest factor to a house sport. Gonzalez edged the Philippines’ Mark Anthony Barriga over twelve rounds atop a June 24 ProBox TV present in Boricua-friendly Kissimmee, Florida.
The upcoming bout with Teraji will mark the third profession journey to Japan for Gonzalez. The primary look on Japanese soil noticed Gonzalez greater than maintain his personal with then-unbeaten three-division and reigning WBO flyweight titlist Kosei Tanaka earlier than struggling three knockdowns within the fateful seventh spherical of their August 2019 title struggle. The valiant effort marked Gonzalez’s closing flyweight struggle, dropping again right down to 108 the place he has gained 5 straight.
Pursuit of the unification bout with Teraji required the conditional help of the WBO. Gonzalez was granted permission to the purpose of reaching a deal, to keep away from an finally ordered necessary title protection versus the winner of the all-Filipino title eliminator between Mark Vicelles (17-0-1, 10KOs) and Regie Suganob (12-0, 4KOs) on February 25 in Calape, Philippines.
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox