UNIFIED at flyweight, Kenshiro Teraji is on the cusp of widespread recognition as a top ten pound-for-pound fighter. However, that status could be at risk tomorrow, as he faces Ricardo Sandoval off the back of a tough run of fights.
Teraji, 25-1 (16 KOs), claimed the WBC light-flyweight crown in just his 10th professional contest and has fought solely in world title contests since, with tomorrow making it 18 world title bouts in a row for ‘The Amazing Boy’.
During that time, Teraji unified the WBC and WBA straps at 108lbs, and the 33-year-old has now stepped up to flyweight and repeated that same feat within two outings, halting both Cristofer Rosales and Seigo Yuri Akui.
Thus far, Teraji’s meeting with Akui is considered by many as the frontrunner for the 2025 Fight of the Year award. Rightfully so, as Teraji’s dramatic final-round stoppage whilst behind on the cards capped off an enthralling 12-round battle.
Yet, just four months on from that gruelling unification, Teraji appears again, this time tasked with California’s Ricardo Rafael Sandoval, 26-2 (18 KOs).
Sandoval was on the verge of a world title shot when he fell short in a majority-decision defeat to David Jimenez in a WBA eliminator back in 2022. However, ‘El Niño’ has since strung together six straight victories to finally earn a first opportunity to claim flyweight gold.
The 26-year-old, who stopped Jay Harris in Bolton back in 2021, now sets about a second fight outside of North America, where he will enter the ring as a sizeable underdog in Teraji’s backyard. However, his odds have been noticeably shortening in recent days.
KENSHIRO TERAJI VS RICARDO RAFAEL SANDOVAL FIGHT PREDICTION
Teraji at his best is undoubtedly the best flyweight on the planet, but that recent war with Akui, and with Carlos Canizales in his final fight at 108lbs, may mean that the Kyoto-born sensation is not quite firing on all cylinders here.
The reigning WBC and WBA champion has a knack for growing into fights, kicking on and grinding out late stoppage wins, with each of his last five knockouts coming in the second half. Don’t be surprised if he struggles to find that extra gear here.
Instead, Boxing News predicts that the experience and ring IQ of Teraji will help him edge a closer-than-anticipated decision to retain his titles by the skin of his teeth.
