Hiroto Kyoguchi or Kenshiro Teraji: Who Walks Away a Unified Champion?
Arguably, the two best 108-pounders in the world will square off on November 1 as WBA Super champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-0,11 KOs) faces fellow countryman and WBC champ Kenshiro Teraji (19-1, 11 KOs) at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The junior flyweight unification showdown will air on ESPN Plus at 7:30 AM EST.
For years, this matchup has been a topic of discussion by Japanese boxing enthusiasts and general fans of the lower-weight divisions. Finally, these two warriors are set to get in the ring to determine who is the superior fighter.
MAKE IT ROUGH IN THERE
A two-division champion, Kyoguchi is an educated pressure fighter. The 28-year-old uses excellent footwork to cut the distance and sets up his attack behind the jab. His fundamentals, punch distribution, and accuracy is terrific.
In his last fight, he brought the entire arsenal in an eighth-round stoppage over then-WBA regular champ Esteban Bermudez in June 2022. Kyoguchi used his jab to establish the tempo, then found a home for uppercuts, straight rights, and body shots. Fighting in Bermudez’s home country of Mexico, Kyoguchi put on one of the best performances of his career.
Facing a Teraji who is taller, longer, and is fleet of foot, the WBA Super champ must get inside the reach and length of his adversary. When inside, he should attack Teraji’s body as if he owes him money. The more physical and rough the fight is, the better things will be for Kyoguchi.
SET THE TONE AND MAINTAIN DISTANCE
Teraji is a boxer-puncher who likes to keep the action either mid-range or outside. The WBC champ has very quick feet, good handspeed, and slept-on punching power.
But he can also be drawn into a firefight. It happened when he lost the title to Masamichi Yabuki in September 2021. After having difficulty dealing with Yabuki’s jab, Teraji panicked and became impatient. Ultimately, Teraji was stopped in eleven rounds. The 30-year-old turned things around in their rematch in March of 2022. He came out with fire in his eyes. Using his jab to back Yabuki up, Teraji won by third-round KO.
Against Kyoguchi, he has to bring the same intensity plus some discipline. Teraji has a bad habit of fighting with his head straight up. He can’t afford to do that in this fight. When the WBA champ gets in close, Teraji needs to hold, turn, and move to the center of the ring. If the fight is more of a stylistic contest than phonebooth warfare, it favors Teraji.
PREDICTION
On paper, it’s easy to say that Teraji wins if he boxes and keeps Kyoguchi at the end of his punches. However, passions will be on full display for both men. As a result, this unification will be more action-packed. That raises Kyoguchi’s chances.
Teraji’s defensive lapses will be exposed. Kyoguchi will be able to get inside and land his share of flesh. In the end, Kyoguchi will outwork Teraji and use his physicality to pound out a decision win.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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