Kenshiro Teraji, “The Amazing Boy,” really outdid himself in barely squeaking past Carlos Canizales. At the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan, on Tuesday, Teraji put on a, let’s say, “memorable” show, managing to not-so-convincingly hold onto his titles in a 12-round majority decision.
So, one judge, bless their heart, saw it as a tie at 113-113, but was swiftly corrected by the other two, who seemed to have a soft spot for the champ, scoring it 114-112 in Teraji’s favor.
Teraji clung to the WBA, WBC, and Ring Magazine light flyweight titles, marking his 15th world title fight. Despite his pound-for-pound fame, let’s just say he wasn’t exactly in top form. He seemed a bit too fond of leaving his chin out there like a sitting duck.
Post-fight, Teraji played the humble hero, saying, “Canizales was such a tough opponent, but I was so desperate to win this fight.” He mused about needing to rethink his strategy since Canizales wasn’t letting him fight at his comfy distance.
If Teraji seems a bit hard on himself, well, he’s got a point. From the get-go, he was like a kid in a candy store – way too eager and a magnet for hits. Canizales had a field day in round one, snapping Teraji’s head back like it was on a swivel. The challenger kept up the heat, landing solid blows and shaking Teraji like a rag doll.
In round two, Teraji did manage to score a knockdown with a right hand, giving the home crowd a fleeting moment of joy. It was more of a stumble-and-tumble affair, with both fighters hitting the deck. But Canizales bounced back, raining down more hurt.
Then came round three, and boom! Canizales floors Teraji with a thunderous right. The champ soaked up punishment like a sponge, and it’s a miracle he made it through the round with his senses intact.
Throughout the fight, Teraji seemed hell-bent on sacrificing his chin in exchange for landing a few good hits. While he did unleash some mean uppercuts and body shots, he also took a buffet of punches from Canizales, turning the fourth round into an early candidate for round of the year.
Mid-fight, Teraji had his moments, but his defense strategy was, well, questionable. His high guard was about as effective as a screen door on a submarine, with Canizales finding gaps for his flurries.
Even after getting hammered in the seventh round, Teraji somehow found the energy to fight back. But he couldn’t shake off his bad habit of getting cornered and pummeled.
In the final rounds, Teraji decided to dance around, maybe losing both rounds in the process. It was like watching someone trying to avoid raindrops.
And now, if Teraji’s struggling to make light flyweight after a decade, maybe it’s time to hang up his gloves at 108 pounds. Sure, the fight was competitive, but let’s be real – he got lucky this time.
