Kenshiro Teraji and Seigo Yuri Akui Deliver an Instant Classic!
At the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan, WBC 112-pound champion Kenshiro “The Amazing Boy” Teraji battled WBA belt-holder Seigo Yuri Akui in a domestic world flyweight unification showdown.
Teraji has established himself as one of the best fighters in boxing’s lower-weight division. A former unified champion at 108, he moved up in weight and captured the then-vacant WBC flyweight title with an impressive eleventh-round stoppage win over Cristofer Rosales in October 2024.
Akui won the WBA crown with a unanimous decision victory over Artem Dalakian in January 2023. However, Akui came into the contest with some concerns. With a strong desire to eventually move up to 115, word had been swirling in Japanese boxing circles that he struggled to make the 112-pound flyweight limit.
HIGH-LEVEL VIOLENCE
This was an all-action affair from the opening bell. Teraji (25-1, 16 KOs) spent the opening rounds trying to establish the jab. However, he’s always been susceptible to getting hit with right hands. Akui (21-3-1, 11 KOs) noticed this flaw and started finding a home for that punch to the head of The Amazing Boy. Teraji was having his moments. However, Akui did an excellent job using his work-rate and physicality to pound away with punches to Teraji’s head and midsection.
At the midway mark, the WBC champion switched his tactics and fought with more force. The WBA champion refused to relent and responded in-kind. Both men were throwing heavy leather and the fans were loving every second of what they were witnessing.
A QUESTIONABLE CALL?
Understanding the moment, Teraji went all-out during the championship rounds. In the opening minute of the twelfth and final round, he stunned Akui with a right hand. Sensing that Akui was suddenly vulnerable, Teraji poured on a fusillade of punches. After Akui was again stunned at the halfway mark of the round, the referee stepped in and waved the fight over. While Akui was certainly unsteady, in the view of this reporter, the stoppage was premature.
Questionable stoppage aside, it was an outstanding battle and an early candidate for Fight of The Year. At the time that the fight was stopped, Teraji was trailing on two of the three judges’ scorecards. The Amazing Boy is now only the second Japanese boxer to become a unified champion in two weight classes.
During the post-fight interview, Teraji acknowledged that he won on pure heart and toughness. He also hinted that he may move up to the junior bantamweight division. There will be a contingent of the boxing public that would love to see him run it back with Akui.
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