WBC Special Preview #TerajiCanizales
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Light Flyweight World Championship
January 23, 2024 / Osaka, Japan / Edion Arena
TEIKEN PROMOTIONS AND TOP RANK PRESENT:
KENSHIRO “The Amazing Boy” TERAJI (Japan)
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 / Total 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 (Venezuela)
Ranked WBC No. 2 at 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 LIGHT FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Franco Udella (Italy) 1975
2. Luis Estaba (Ven) 1975 – 1978
3. Freddie Castillo (Mex) 1978
4. Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh (Tha) 1978
5. Sung Jun Kim (Kor) 1978 – 1980
6. Shigeo Nakajima (Jap) 1980
7. Hilario Zapata (Pan) 1980 – 1982
8. Amado Urzua (Mex) 1982
9. Tadashi Tomori (Jap) 1982
10. Hilario Zapata (Pan) * 1982 – 1983
11. Jungkoo Chang (Kor) 1983 – 1988
12. German Torres (Mex) 1988 – 1989
13. Yulwoo Lee (Kor) 1989
14. Humberto Gonzalez (Mex) 1989 – 1990
15. Rolando Pascua (Phil) 1990 – 1991
16. Melchor Cob Castro (Mex) 1991
17. Humberto Gonzalez (Mex)* 1991 – 1993
18. Michael Carbajal (US) 1993 – 1994
19. Humberto Gonzalez (Mex)* 1994 – 1995
20. Saman Sorjaturong (Thai) 1995 – 1999
21. Yosam Choi (Kor) 1999 – 2002
22. Jorge Arce (Mex) 2001 – 2004
23. Eric Ortiz (Mex) 2005
24. Brian Viloria (US) 2005 – 2006
25. Omar Niño (Mexico) 2006
26. Wandee Singwangcha (Thai) (Interim) 2006
27. Edgar Sosa (Mexico) 2007 – 2009
28. Rodel Mayol (Philippines) 2009 – 2010
29. Omar Niño (Mexico) * 2010
30. Gilberto Keb Baas (Mexico) 2010 – 2011
31. Adrian Hernandez (Mexico) 2011
32. Kompayak Porpramook (Thai) 2011 – 2012
33. Adrian Hernandez (Mexico)* 2012 – 2014
34. Naoya Inoue (Japan) 2014
35. Pedro Guevara (Mexico) 2014 – 2015
36. Yo Kimura (Japan) 2015 – 2016
37. Ganigan Lopez (Mexico) 2016 – 2017
38. Kenshiro Teraji (Japan) 2017 – 2021
39. Masamichi Yabuki (Japan) 2021 – 2022
40. Kenshiro Teraji (Japan)* 2022 –
* Regained
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)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE LIGHT FLYWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
34 light flyweight world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Hilario Zapata (Panama), Humberto Gonzalez (Mexico) two times, Omar Niño (Mexico), Adrian Hernandez (Mexico), Kenshiro Teraji (Japan).
149 light flyweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC LIGHT FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Sep. 18, 2023 Kenshiro Teraji TKO9 Hekkie Budler – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 8, 2023 Kenshiro Teraji TKO9 Anthony Olascuaga – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 1, 2022 Kenshiro Teraji TKO7 Hiroto Kyoguchi – Saitama, Japan
Mar. 19, 2022 Kenshiro Teraji KO3 Masamichi Yabuki – Kyoto, Japan
Sept. 22, 2021 Masamichi Yabuki TKO10 Kenshiro Teraji – Kyoto, Japan
Apr. 24, 2021 Kenshiro Teraji W12 Tetsuya Hisada – Osaka, Japan
Dec. 23, 2019 Kenshiro Teraji TKO4 Randy Petalcorin – Yokohama, Japan
July 12, 2019 Kenshiro Teraji TKO4 Jonathan Taconing – Osaka, Japan
Oct. 7, 2018 Kenshiro Teraji TKO7 Milan Melindo – Yokohama, Japan
July 2, 2016 Ganigan Lopez W12 Yu Kimura – Kyoto, Japan
Apr. 6, 2014 Naoya Inoue TKO6 Adrian Hernandez – Tokyo, Japan
Feb. 8, 2014 Adrian Hernandez TKO3 Janiel Rivera – Huixquilucan, Mexico
June 19, 2010 Omar Niño W12 Rodel Mayol – San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico
Nov. 21, 2009 Rodel Mayol TKO2 Edgar Sosa – Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico
Apr. 14, 2007 Edgar Sosa W12 Brian Viloria – San Antonio, Texas
Feb. 18, 2006 Brian Viloria W12 Jose Antonio Aguirre – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 4, 2004 Jorge Arce W12 Juanito Rubillar – Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
July 6, 2002 Jorge Arce TKO6 Yo Sam Choi – Seoul, South Korea
Jan. 30, 2001 Yo Sam Choi KO7 Saman Sorjaturong – Seoul, South Korea
July 15, 1995 Saman Sorjaturong TKO7 Humberto Gonzalez – Inglewood, California
Nov. 12, 1994 Humberto Gonzalez W12 Michael Carbajal – Mexico City, D.F., Mexico
Mar. 13, 1993 Michael Carbajal KO7 Humberto Gonzalez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Dec. 9, 1989 Humberto Gonzalez W12 Jung Koo Chang – Daegu, South Korea
Mar. 26, 1983 Jung Koo Chang TKO3 Hilario Zapata – Daejeon, South Korea
Sep. 18, 1982 Hilario Zapata W15 Jung Koo Chang – Chongju, South Korea
Feb. 19, 1978 Freddy Castillo TKO14 Luis Estaba – Caracas, Venezuela
July 18, 1976 Luis Estaba KOe Franco Udella – Caracas, Venezuela
Apr. 4, 1975 Franco Udella WDQ12 Valentin Martinez – Milan, Italy
Amazing Boy-Extraordinary Man
By James Blears
Hard hitting World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Kenshiro “Amazing Boy” Teraji (22-1, 14 KO’s) 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, 19 KO’s) on January 23rd in the Edion Arena, Osaka Japan.
It’ll be Kenshiro’s fifteenth title fight. He modestly celebrated his thirty second 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 this year.
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 TKO’d, also in the ninth.
Kenshiro’s only hiccough which abruptly ended his first reign transpired when he fell to compatriot Masamichi Yabuki via a tenth 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 73.08 KO ratio. Kenshiro’s KO rate is 63.64 percent. 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.
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