Kenshiro Teraji vs Seigo Yuri Akui fight preview, betting odds and prediction

WBC Special Preview: Kenshiro Teraji vs Seigo Yuri Akui

Finest firefly by James Blears

The hair-trigger poised, knife-edged balanced definition of the finest firefly is underway, with the unification bout between WBC flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji and World Boxing Association flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui on Thursday March 13th at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo.

Kenshiro Teraji is part of the Japanese Superstar Trinity, namely himself, Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani. The other two have filled out more than he did and are now super-bantamweight and bantamweight champions, respectively. Kenshiro was WBC light-flyweight for two reigns, before testing his wings to fly.

Teraji 24-1, 15 KOs, has already clearly shown he is an outstanding Green and Gold World Champion and although he is past the first flush of youth, which his nickname of Amazing Boy alludes to, there are still some miles left on the clock.

In his time, a WBC Youth light-flyweight Champion, a twice unified light-flyweight champion and now a WBC flyweight champion, the only fly in the ointment was his 10th round TKO loss to Masamichi Yabuki, while not having fully recovered from the lingering effects of Covid 19.

Back then, we knew appreciably less about its harmful effects and just how long it took to shake them off. He rectified that slight stumble six months later, almost to the day, with a resounding third round KO victory.

Teraji, who debuted as a pro in 2014, won the WBC light flyweight title in just his 10th fight, defeating Mexican southpaw champion Ganigan Lopez by MD.

In his first defence, he defeated former champion and Ganigan compatriot Pedro ‘’Pedrin’’ Guevara by MD. Two fights later he KO's Ganigan Lopez in two rounds in their rematch. By then, he'd perfected the southpaw style.

In his first reign he successfully defended his title eight times. In his second light-flyweight era, there were four successful defences, including his ninth round TKO of South Africa's former world champion Hekkie Budler, then a mixed decision close contest with Carlos Canizales , in his final farewell wave to light-flyweight, before moving up to flyweight.

So then, this leap to flyweight for the vacant WBC title against former light flyweight champion Cristofer ‘’The Whip’’ Rosales, who put up a stout, defiant resistance, until round 11 when the constant and precise accumulation pummelling, finally wore down his resistance, took its toll, and Kenshiro won by TKO in the penultimate round.

It's a mistake to think that the little big men aren't mighty punchers, delivering wallops far and way above their apparent weight capacity.

The poster boy dissuading this notion was the great Ricardo ‘’Finito’’ Lopez with a fabled 51-0-1, 38 KOs career winning the strawweight and light-flyweight championships. His only blemish was a draw against Rosendo ‘’Bufalo’’ Alvarez 37-4-2, 24 KOs, which he rectified in a rematch.

Teraji's opponent in this contest between the WBC and the WBA champion and compatriot Seigo Yuri Akui 21-2-1, 11 KOs, who aged 29 is four years younger.

Seigo won the WBA title ending the almost six years reign of Ukrainian Artem Dalakian via a UD. Since then, a successful UD victory over Thananchai Charunphak and a SD win over Taku Kuwahara.

Seigo also debuted as a pro in 2014 in the quarter final of the West Japan light-flyweight Rookie of the Year Tournament and he won by UD. After winning the final by UD against Michitaka Muto, he fought Seita Ogido to a draw for the All- Japan Rookie of the year title. One year later, he won the All Japan Rookie of the year title defeating Hiroki Hosoya by UD.

Two years later he was stopped in round six of the final of the Japanese Youth Tournament by Junto Nakatani, who towered over him. Yet in his next fight he KO`d Masamichi Yabuki in just ninety- one seconds of round one.

His only other loss was via eighth round TKO to Jaysever Abcede, who was at that time ranked 10th by the WBA. Since then, nine straight wins. He's now fully matured.

Leading up to this one, Teraji has has the greater experience against an international array of opponents and a longer overall reign as a champion. He has fought 185 rounds compared to Seigo`s 123 rounds. Kenshir's KO ratio is 62.5 percent, while Seigo's is 52.38 percent.

Size-wise there's little to chose. Teraji is 5'4 1/2" tall with a 64 1/2" reach. Seigo is half an inch shorter in stature but his reach is 66". Both are proven punchers who can also box efficiently. It's going to be a riveting test of willpower as well as arm-strong clout.

Seigo is fighting for the Pride of Kurashiki Okayama while Kenshiro is fighting for the Pride of Kyoto. A lot is at stake. This will be a battle royal. Like with a firefly it'll be luminescent and ultimately illuminating.

Tale of the Tape

KENSHIRO TERAJI (Japan) WBC Flyweight World Champion, 1st Defence Age: 33 Date of birth: January 6, 1992 Residence: Uji, Kyoto, Japan Birthplace: Joyo, Kyoto, Japan Record: 24-1, 15 KOs Total rounds: 185 World championship fights: 15-1, 10 KOs Height: 5’4.5” – 164cm Reach: 64” – 163cm Stance: Right-handed Manager: Takeo Imamura Trainer: Hisashi Teraji

SEIGO YURI AKUI (Japan) WBA Flyweight World Champion, 3rd Defence Age: 29 Date of birth: September 3, 1995 Residence, birthplace: Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan Record: 21-2-1, 11 KOs Total rounds: 123 World championship fights: 3-0, 0 KOs Height: 5’4” – 163cm Reach: 67” – 170cm Stance: Right-handed Manager: Ryuya Moriyasu Trainer: Masanobu Sumasu

Betting Odds

1/4 Teraji 18/1 Draw 7/2 Akui

Prediction

Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: "I think that Teraji is currently in the form of his life and only getting better with each fight. I believe he scores a late stoppage in this fight, any time in the second half of the fight, most likely in rounds 9-12."

WBC Top 10 Flyweight World Champions

1. Miguel Canto (Mexico) 2. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand) 3. Chartchai Chionoi (Thailand) 4. Efren Torres (Mexico) 5. Yuri Arbachakov (Russia) 6. Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua) 7. Sot Chitalada (Thailand) 8. Akira Yaegashi (Japan) 9. Betulio Gonzalez (Venezuela) 10. Shoji Oguma (Japan)