Kenshiro shines in nine!
WBC & WBA light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji (21-1, 13KO) successfully defended his crown with a ninth round TKO of late replacement Anthony Olascuaga (5-1, 3KO).
This fight was at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan and was broadcast live on ESPN and Amazon Prime-Japan.
Fledgling, yet precocious, daring and ambitious Olascuaga, a 24-year-old from Los Angeles, California, was training for a fight at a show on April 15 in Osaka when he got the call to replace WBO champion Jonathan ‘Bomba’ Gonzalez, who fell ill. And he jumped at it!
24-year-old Olascuaga came out brash in the first round hunting for the knockout. But seasoned Teraji showed guile, by masterfully working the body well, escalating by landing jolting combinations upstairs.
During the third round in an exchange of blows, Teraji wobbled Olascuaga in an onslaught, causing the challenger's gloves to momentarily touch the canvas, for which referee Mark Nelson gave a count.
Versatile, experienced, efficient and ruthless, Teraji took over with brave Olascagua trying to counterattack. But in round nine, it was curtains, when Teraji trapped the challenger on the ropes and landed a barrage of blows to the head that sent Olascuaga through the ropes and nearly out of the ring. The fight was immediately stopped to save him.
Olascuaga ended with his first loss, but with a credible performance Still only 24, he has banked experience to yield future dividends.
Article sponsored by HÖRFA
