Kenshiro Teraji halts Hiroto Kyoguchi to unify light-flyweight belts
On Tuesday, November 1st, in Japan, once-beaten Kenshiro Teraji (20-1, 12KO) stopped countryman and rival champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (16-1, 11KO) in the 7th round to become the WBA, WBC and Ring Magazine ruler at 108 pounds.
The 30-year-old Teraji, known as 'The Amazing Boy', put on a genuine Fighter of the Year performance, after he caught 28-year-old undefeated Kyoguchi with a left jab/right hand combination in round seven, the referee stopping the fight at 2:36 as Kyoguchi went crashing into the ropes.
There was no need for a count, and Teraji took away the black and gold WBA belt Kyoguchi had held for close to four years, as well as asserting his position as the World's No.1 108lbs ruler.
The Fight
Kenshiro’s speed and accuracy was decisive in overcoming and overwhelming Kyoguchi, a strong and previously undefeated rival, but who could not counter the frequency of lightning combinations.
As the rounds wore on, Kyoguchi began to look further out of his depth, due to the increasing wear and tear.
A right hand from Teraji dropped him in the fifth, but what followed was something no one expected. Kyoguchi managed to recover, fight back with gusto and land some hard shots in the last minute that pushed Kenshiro back against the run of play.
The sixth round was calmer, but Teraji did not lose his concentration and managed to nullify any dangerous combination of Kyoguchi.
It was in the seventh round when the end came. Kenshiro’s right hands were the danger factor, and he first threw one that pushed his opponent back. He immediately released another one that practically finished Hiroto, but the ropes stopped his fall, and as the WBC champion was moving in to finish it, the referee rightfully intervened to stop the fight.
