Kenshiro Teraji, boasting a record of 25 wins and 1 loss with 16 knockouts, is poised to headline a significant triple world championship event in Yokohama on July 30. This pivotal match will see `The Amazing Boy` defend his WBA and WBC light-flyweight belts against Ricardo Rafael Sandoval, who enters the ring with a record of 26 wins and 2 losses, 18 by knockout. A victory for Teraji could potentially pave the way for a showdown with interim champion Galal Yafai. Interestingly, just nine days before this event, Yafai is slated to face Francisco Rodriguez Jr., notable for being one of only seven fighters to have gone the full distance with Japanese sensation Junto Nakatani.
Ricardo Rafael Sandoval, currently holding the #3 ranking with the WBA and #4 with the WBC, will be competing outside of the United States for the first time since June 2021, when he secured a knockout victory over Britain`s Jay Harris with a body shot. The blend of Teraji`s technical finesse and Sandoval’s aggressive style promises a captivating confrontation at Yokohama Buntai.
The second world title bout on the card features Matchroom`s recent signing, Antonio Vargas (19-1, 11 KOs), who is set to defend his WBA bantamweight title against former challenger Daigo Higa (21-3-2, 19 KOs). Just last week, Eddie Hearn`s promotional outfit announced a co-promotion agreement with Boxlab Promotions specifically for Vargas.
Vargas, a 2016 Olympian, initially claimed the interim title by defeating Winston Guerrero in December and was elevated to full champion status last month following Seiya Tsutsumi`s failure to meet his mandatory defense obligations against Vargas. Higa, who fought Tsutsumi to a draw in a February title bout, is now pursuing his third attempt to become a two-division world champion.
The Yokohama tripleheader will conclude with the undefeated Dominican fighter Erick Rosa (8-0, 2 KOs) defending his WBA light-flyweight championship against Kyosuke Takami (9-0, 7 KOs). Takami, the 23-year-old challenger, possesses a style similar to Teraji and brings power and skill that could potentially trouble Rosa. As the number one contender, Takami appears well-equipped to potentially cause an upset against the champion in what is expected to be a highly competitive encounter.
