By Ken Hissner: At the Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, Japan Monday over ESPN+ promoter Akihiko Honda presented WBA Super World Light Flyweight and WBC World Light Flyweight champion Japan’s Kenshiro Teraji stopping WBC Silver champion South Africa’s Hekkie Budler in nine rounds.
In the co-main event, WBO World Super Flyweight champion Japan’s Junto Nakatani defeated Mexico’s Argi Cortes.
In the Main Event, WBA & WBC Light Fly champ Kenshiro Teraji, 22-1 (14), #107 ¼, of Uji, Kyoto, Japan, stopped Hekkie Budler, 35-5 (11), #107 ½, of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, at 2:19 of the ninth round. He was ahead 80-72 and 79-73 twice after eight rounds.
In the first four rounds, Teraji dominated for the most part, hurting Budler with rights to the body in the fifth round. In the seventh round, Budler landed three punches to the chin midway in the round on Teraji taking the round.
In the ninth round, with a minute remaining, Budler landed a good combination to the body of Teraji.
In the final minute, Teraji landed over a dozen unanswered punches, having Budler out on his feet when referee Jose Guadalupe Garcia called a halt.
In the co-main event, WBO World Super Fly champ southpaw Junto Nakatani, 26-0 (19), #114 ¾, of Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan, defeated WBO No. 6 ranked Argi Cortes, 25-4-2 (10), #107 ½, of Mexico City, MEX, over 12 lopsided rounds scoring three knockdowns.
In the first four rounds, Nakatani dominated. In round five round final minute, Nakatani landed a vicious left uppercut to the midsection, dropping Cortes in a delayed knockdown for an 8-count from Referee Steve Willis.
With seconds remaining, Nakatani landed a right to the ribs, and down went Cortes for a second time as the bell sounded. In the sixth round, Cortes rocked Nakatani with a right on the chin after a minute.
In the ninth round’s final minute, a left from Nakatani to the mid-section and down went Cortes for an 8-count from referee Willis. Cortes managed to get through the final rounds.
Scores were 119-106 twice and 118-107.
Super Fly Giemel ’Pistolero’ Magramo, 28-4 (23), #115, of Paranague City, PH, was stopped by Anthony ‘Princesa’ Olascuaga, 6-1 (4), #112 ¼, of L.A., CA, at 2:57 of the seventh round of a scheduled 12.
In the fourth round, in an all-action fight, Olascuaga got the best of Magramo. In the seventh round final seconds, Olascuaga landed a three-punch combination, starting with a right on the chin, having Magramo out on his feet when referee Nakamura waved it off, holding Magramo up and keeping him from hitting the canvas.
Former kickboxer southpaw Tenshin Nasukawa, 2-0 (0), #122 ¼, of Tokyo, Japan, defeated Luis ‘Kiko’ Guzman, 10-3 (6), #122 ¼, of Villahermosa, MEX, over eight lopsided rounds.
All scores were 80-72. Biney Martin was the referee.