Kenshiro Teraji and Anthony Olascuaga. Picture by Naoki Fukuda
Kenshiro Teraji turned again the sport problem of late-substitute Anthony Olascuaga, stopping the inexperienced however proficient prospect within the ninth spherical of an entertaining junior flyweight world championship bout on Saturday at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo, Japan.
Teraji (21-1, 13 KOs), defended his Ring Journal, WBA and WBC 108-pound titles in opposition to the 24-year-old L.A. native, who stepped in for WBO beltholder Jonathan Gonzalez, who needed to withdraw resulting from sickness.
Whereas the scrapped title-unification match was a letdown, Olascuaga (5-1, 4 KOs), who had sparred with Teraji in Southern California as each an beginner and professional, made for a sensational battle.
Each fighters flashed snappy jabs and ripped vicious proper crosses from the opening bell, and each landed head-snapping punches throughout the early rounds. Nonetheless, Teraji, the busier fighter, additionally attacked the physique, and managed the space along with his footwork, alternating between strain and stick-and-move techniques.
The vastly extra skilled fighter took over the bout in Rounds 4, 5 and 6, punishing the youthful man with mixtures, however Olascuaga raged again in Rounds 7 and eight, taking the battle to Japan’s beloved 31-year-old veteran.
Teraji summoned the sort of rally that solely particular fighters have in them throughout Spherical 9 and backed Olascuaga to the ropes, knocking the up-and-comer by them with a violent barrage that pressured referee Mark Nelson to wave the bout off with no depend. It was the correct name, as Olascuaga appeared woozy for minutes after the stoppage.
THROUGH THE ROPES 🥶@KenshiroooooKen closes the present! pic.twitter.com/qqulKTdbW6
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 8, 2023
Within the co-featured bout, Takuma Inoue outpointed recreation veteran Liborio Solis over 12 rounds to win the WBA bantamweight title his older brother Naoya lately vacated. Inoue (18-1, 4 KOs), The Ring’s 2015 Prospect of the 12 months, gained by scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 however the 41-year-old Venezuelan made him earn it.
Solis (35-7-1, 16 KOs), The Ring’s No. 10-rated bantamweight, was the aggressor and the busier fighter for many of the match, however Inoue, The Ring’s No. 10-rated junior featherweight, was the extra correct ring common regardless of struggling a nasty reduce (resulting from an elbow from Solis in Spherical 5) to the outer nook of his left eye.
On the undercard, Reiya Abe soundly outpointed The Ring’s No. 9-rated featherweight Kiko Martinez over 12 rounds, to earn the IBF’s obligatory challenger standing. The 30-year-old southpaw gained by scores of 119-109 (twice) and 117-111. The IBF title is at present held by Luis Alberto Lopez, who is about to defend it in opposition to Michael Conlan on Might 27.
Additionally on the undercard of the Teiken/High Rank co-promotions (streamed on Amazon Prime in Japan and ESPN+ within the U.S.), flashy welterweight prospect Jin Sasaki received up from a knockdown to attain an exhilarating third-round KO over battle-tested former title challenger Keita Obara (26-5-1, 23 KOs). Sasaki (15-1-1, 14 KOs) was dropped within the second spherical of the shootout however the 21-year-old puncher rebounded with a knockdown (courtesy of a left hook to the physique) after which iced the 26-year-old veteran with a proper cross.
LIGHTNING STRIKES IN TOKYO ⚡️@JinSasaki0728 x #TerajiOlascuaga pic.twitter.com/EoRf7t1qcQ
— High Rank Boxing (@trboxing) April 8, 2023
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