Teraji To Defend Unified Status Against Budler
Unified world light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji returns on September 18 to face mandatory WBC challenger Hekkie “The Hexecutioner” Budler (35-4, 11 KOs). The bout will occur at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
TWO HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED FIGHTERS
Many observers rate Teraji as the top fighter in the division and one of the elite fighters in the lower-weight divisions. The 31 year-old became the unified champion with a dominant seventh-round stoppage over former IBF titleholder Hiroto Kyoguchi in November 2022. *Teraji’s last outing was a ninth-round stoppage over Anthony Olascuaga on April 8.
Budler has been one of South Africa’s preeminent fighters for the last decade. He is the former WBA champion at 105 and a former unified champion at 108 pounds.
*In June 2022, Budler became the mandatory challenger after scoring a unanimous decision victory over former WBO 108-pound champion Elwin Soto. Budler has been patiently waiting to fight Teraji. After accepting step-aside money for Teraji to face Kyoguchi last year, the South African gets his world title shot.
Teraji’s goal is to become undisputed at 108. Should he win, he has eyes on a potential showdown with reigning WBO champion Jonathan Gonzalez later this year. At age 35, Budler wants one more shot at champion glory.
