Teraji vs Canizales WBC Special Preview
Amazing Boy vs Extraordinary Man by James Blears
Hard hitting WBC light flyweight champion Kenshiro “Amazing Boy” Teraji (22-1, 14KO) seeks a late birthday present, with his voluntary defense which is his fourth during his second reign as supremo, against former champion Carlos Canizales (26-1-1, 19KO) on Tuesday, January 23rd in the Edion Arena, Osaka Japan.
It’ll be Kenshiro’s 15th title fight. He modestly celebrated his 32nd birthday on January 6th, having matured into one of the finest and most dedicated WBC Champions. Both WBC and WBA champion, he was to face WBO champion Jonathan “Bomba” Gonzalez in April last year. But Jonathan had to withdraw due to illness. Hopefully it’ll happen somewhere and sometime down the road during 2024.
Determined to stay busy, Kenshiro fought late replacement Antony Olascuaga, who he dispatched in round nine via TKO. An even sterner test in September against wily and experienced former two division champion Hekkie Budler, who he also TKO’d in the ninth.
Kenshiro’s only hiccough, which abruptly ended his first reign, transpired when he fell to compatriot Masamichi Yabuki via a 10th round TKO. He stumbled and failed in his ninth defense, by returning too soon, after suffering from a weakening bout of covid. But he avenged that defeat by KO’ing Masamichi during the third round of their rematch. Then as champion once again, three successful defences, all by TKO. He’s a formidable force to be reckoned with.
Next up is Canizales, who’s the Pride of Caracas. It’s a voluntary WBC defense for Kenshiro and a mandatory for his WBA version. Standing five feet three inches tall, Carlos is two inches shorter than Kenshiro, yet his sixty four and a half inches reach is half an inch more than the champion’s wingspan.
A road warrior, Carlos is no stranger to Japan, which always welcomes challengers in a courteous, cordial and respectful way. He travelled there to win the vacant WBA champion Ryoichi Taguchi via a UD. Then successful defenses in Kuala Lumpur and China.
It all then came unstuck and crashing down in Mexico City with a surprise defeat at the hands of tall rangy Esteban Bermudez via a sixth round TKO. Up to that point Carlos, was undefeated, but hadn’t fought in two years and the ring rust was evident. Carlos, who was giving away four inch in height came steaming forward throwing plenty of leather, only to be met with long stiff jabs and shuddering effective counters.
In round six he was put down with a jarring, looping right hand and barely beat the count. An even harder right hand put on back on the canvass and this time he was in no condition to continue.
He’s made amends since then with a fourth round KO of Ganigan Lopez and an eight round TD victory over previously undefeated Daniel Matellon, which was a WBA eliminator. A clash of heads in round two resulted in a deep jagged gash over Carlos’s left eye, which worsened so it went to the score cards.
Carlos is a worthy challenger with a powerful 73% KO ratio. Kenshiro’s KO rate is 63.64%. Kenshiro is fully away of this heavy artillery potential and accordingly he’ll be taking as much care of defending himself at all times, mixed in with a nicely tempered offense. He’s fast and chooses punches selectively, gracefully moving in with lightning flurries and then deftly steeping aside to avoid incoming, while momentarily surveying his handiwork. He tends to hold his hands low and relies on his reflexes to defend himself.
A fight against a former champion who always retains that champion’s will to win, is no cake walk. Icing has to be applied with aplomb plus flourishes. Carlos is two years younger than Kenshiro, but this might well be his last tilt at maximum glory.
He’s fully aware of this and is sure to go for broke. Kenshiro, who is known for his beaming smile and affable personality outside ring hours business, is poker faced focused when the opening bell tolls. He’ll be looking to reinforce and better an already remarkable career, via batter. He’s determined to achieve more successful defenses but is seasoned enough to focus on the task at hand, ahead.
Both hit very hard for this division and while it lasts it’s likely to be a veritable slugfest.
How to Watch
UK / Japan: Amazon
U.S.: espn + 4am ET
ROW: ESPN Knockout / Star Plus
Tale of the Tape
Kenshiro “The Amazing Boy” Teraji
Two-time WBC Light Flyweight World Champion
Age: 32
Date of birth: January 6, 1992
Residence: Uji, Kyoto, Japan
Birthplace: Joyo, Kyoto, Japan
Record: 22-1, 14 KOs
Rounds: 162
World championship fights: 13-1, 9 KOs
Height: 5’4.5” – 164cm
Reach: 64” – 163cm
Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Takeo Imamura
Trainer: Hisashi Teraji
Carlos “CCC” Canizales
WBC #2 Light Flyweight
Age: 28
Date of birth: March 11, 1995
Residence, birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela
Record: 26-1-1, 19 KOs
Total rounds: 145
World championship fights: 3-1-1, 1 KO
Height: 5’3” – 160cm
Reach: 64.5” – 164cm
Stance: Right-handed
WBC Top 10 Light Flyweight Champions
1. Humberto Gonzalez (Mexico)
2. Hilario Zapata (Panama)
3. Michael Carbajal (Us)
4. Luis Estaba (Venezuela)
5. Jungkoo Chang (Korea)
6. Saman Sorjaturong (Thailand)
7. Jorge Arce (Mexico)
8. Edgar Sosa (Mexico)
9. Yosam Choi (Korea)
10. Tadashi Tomori (Japan)