(Buddhika Weerasinghe/GETTY)

Western media are eagerly awaiting Kenshiro Teraji's upcoming defense! Despite change of opponent

Originally, Teraji was scheduled to fight WBO world light flyweight champion Jonathan González (Puerto Rico) in a unification bout between the three organizations. However, Gonzalez developed mycoplasma pneumonia, making the match impossible. As a result, the fight had to be changed to a defense against WBA World Flyweight No. 2 Anthony Orazcuaña (USA).

　Although Teraji's eagerly-awaited unification bout between the three organizations was postponed, he showed overwhelming strength against Hiroto Kyoguchi last November, and as the big match approaches, he is receiving high expectations not only from within Japan but also from overseas.

　On April 4, ProBoxing.cz, a boxing website in the Czech Republic, published a feature article on the upcoming defense. In it, the article mainly tells the biography of the two-time champion: "Kenshiro Terraj won the WBC belt in May 2017, beating the then Mexican champion Ganigan Lopez in a close fight. Since then, he has successfully defended the belt eight times," he recalled the process of crowning and defending the title.

　He also recounted the results of his two fights against Masamichi Yabuki: "After that, he was stopped in the 10th round in his fight with fellow countryman Masamichi Yabuki, but in a rematch last March, this time Terraj knocked him out in three rounds to regain the title," he said, adding that in the fight against Kyoguchi, which had two belts on the line, he "defeated then undefeated In addition, in the fight for the two belts against Kyoguchi, "Terraj was faster, more accurate, and clearly dominated the fight against the then undefeated Hiroto Kyoguchi," the media reported.

　Kyoguchi did his best, but Terraj responded to every combination with twice as much force," the media outlet noted. Terraj is expected to defend both belts on Saturday," he added.

　The Sporting News, a U.S. media outlet, also reinforced Terraji's superiority in this bout, saying, "With the change of opponent, Kenshiro Terraji is ready to prove his overwhelming strength, and Anthony Olasuquaga, who will face him on April 8, is looking for an upset.

　Although the defense against his opponent was decided on short notice, Kenshiro Teraji is required to express his abilities as a champion of two organizations. The event will be a high-profile affair with a card full of unique fighters, but as the main eventer, Teraji should be able to show his strength to close out the event on a high note.

Compiled by THE DIGEST editorial department

Source: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c49649ed5cf0e2ea4fc2a34c4e53755b0963963a