By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Fleet-footed Japanese Kenshiro Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs), 111.75, seized the vacant WBC flyweight belt when he battered Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales (37-7, 22 KOs), 112, from all angles, had him badly nose-bleeding and scored a TKO victory at 0:06 into the eleventh round on Sunday in Tokyo, Japan. For ex-WBC 108-pound kingpin Kenshiro, it was his second acquisition of the world belt in the heavier 112-pound category. It was Teraji, 32, that controlled the contest all the way by making good use of his versatile jabs and right counters to the taller Nicaraguan.
The open scoring system indicated Teraji constantly leading on points after the fourth: 40-36 twice, 39-37; and after the eighth: 79-73 twice and 78-74. As Teraji accelerated his attack in later rounds, Rosales’ nose-bleeding became so worsened that the referee Laurence Cole wisely had his gory nose examined just after the eleventh started. The ringside physician diagnosed that his nose might be badly broken, so the third man logically declared a halt in favor of Teraji.
Saul Canelo Alvarez was behind the corner of Rosales since he was handled by his trainer Eddy Reynoso, but Canelo’s encouragement unfortunately couldn’t have him victorious.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions.
(More to come)
Kenshiro’s really good. He will stand there and take shots though and this was a fun fight. They were working on a unification with Bomba before they both decided to move up, If Gonzalez wins tomorrow they can do that OR the rematch with Olascuaga would be fine as well. Also have Akui and Sunny – Yafai winner. Flyweight is looking nice!