Reality has set in that Kenshiro Teraji is on borrowed time at junior flyweight.
The reigning lineal, WBC and WBA champion is eager to further unify the division. That goal has remained in place since his one-sided knockout win over countryman Hiroto Kyoguchi, though a bit of bad luck has stalled those plans.
“I don’t know yet whether I will remain in the junior flyweight division,” Teraji admitted to BoxingScene.com. “I would like to stay if unification remains a possibility.”
For now, Teraji (22-1, 14KOs) is set for the fourth defense of his second title reign versus WBA mandatory challenger and former secondary titlist Carlos Canizales (26-1-1, 19KOs). Their bout will air live this Tuesday on ESPN+ from EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan.
It’s the second straight ordered title fight for Teraji, who earned a ninth-round stoppage of former two-division champ Hekkie Budler last September at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. The same venue hosted his previous bout, a ninth-round knockout of unbeaten Anthony Olascuaga last April. The date was originally reserved for a three-belt unification versus WBO titlist Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez (27-3-1, 14KOs), who fell ill and was forced to withdraw from the bout.
The good news for Teraji is that all of the reigning 108-pound titleholders will enter separate fights six weeks apart.
Puerto Rico’s Gonzalez is due to face fellow Boricua and interim WBO titlist Rene Santiago in a title consolidation bout on March 2 in San Juan. IBF titlist Adrian Curiel faces Sivenathi Nontshinga on February 16 in a rematch to their November 4 clash which saw Curiel win the title via stunning first-round knockout. The winner of Curiel-Nontshinga II will be in position to enter a voluntary defense since no mandatory is assigned.
The same will apply to Teraji and Gonzalez with wins in their respective bouts.
“We will see how everything is decided,” Teraji said of the three title fights between now and March 2. “I would very much like to be undisputed champion before I exit the division.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox