Kenshiro Teraji Claims Vacant WBC Flyweight Title Against Cristofer Rosales

In a decisive move up to the flyweight division, former light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji secured the vacant WBC 112-pound title with a commanding victory over Cristofer Rosales at Tokyo's Ariake Arena. The bout, which served as the co-feature to the Takuma Inoue vs. Seiya Tsutsumi fight, showcased Teraji's technical prowess despite a noticeable size disadvantage.

At 32, Teraji, known as "The Amazing Boy," proved that his skills could translate effectively to a higher weight class. Despite giving up 6½ inches in reach to the 30-year-old Rosales, Teraji's superior footwork, hand speed, and precision punching were the defining factors of the fight.

The contest's pivotal moment came in the third round when Taraji rocked Rosales with a sharp counter right hand, demonstrating his power at the new weight. While Rosales, trained by the renowned Eddy Reynoso and supported by Canelo Alvarez, showed resilience, he struggled to overcome Teraji's relentless jab and movement.

Open scoring, a feature of this bout, revealed Teraji's growing lead throughout the fight. By the eighth round, the scorecards read 79-73 twice and 78-74 in Teraji's favour, leaving little doubt about the outcome.

Rosales' attempts to shift the momentum, including briefly switching to a southpaw stance, yielded limited success. His most significant moment came late in the fourth round with a left hand that nearly floored Teraji, but it wasn't enough to turn the tide.

The fight concluded when referee Laurence Cole, on the advice of the ringside doctor, stopped the bout before the start of the 11th round due to Rosales' heavily bleeding nose, officially recording it as an 11th-round TKO.

Post-fight, Teraji, now 24-1 (15 KOs), admitted to extreme nervousness but expressed joy at his victory. This win marks Teraji's successful transition to flyweight and positions him as a new force in the 112-pound division.

Rosales's record falls to 37-7 (22 KOs), a setback in his quest for another world title. However, the loss highlights Teraji's exceptional skill set, even against physically larger opponents.