Teraji vs Budler WBC WBA Junior Flyweight Titles

Japan's unified WBC/WBA light flyweight world champion, Kenshiro Teraji, is poised to defend his titles against the skilled South African two-division world champion, Hekkie Budler. The monumental event is scheduled for Monday, September 18, at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

The co-headliner for the evening features Junto Nakatani, an undefeated Japanese southpaw, who will make his inaugural defense of the WBO junior bantamweight world title against the Mexican contender Argi Cortes.

The thrilling matchups of Teraji-Budler and Nakatani-Cortes, along with other exciting undercard bouts, will be available for live streaming exclusively in the United States on ESPN+ during the early morning hours.

Teraji (21-1, 13 KOs) embarked on his championship journey by capturing the WBC 108-pound title in May 2018 through a victory over Ganigan Lopez. His impressive record showcases eight successful defenses before relinquishing the belt due to a 10th-round TKO against Masamichi Yabuki in September 2021. In a subsequent rematch against Yabuki in March 2022, Teraji avenged his sole defeat with a third-round stoppage, reclaiming his title. Further highlighting his prowess, Teraji secured a unification victory by halting Hiroto Kyoguchi in the seventh round last November to merge the WBC and WBA titles. His unified championship defense was achieved through a ninth-round TKO against the previously unbeaten contender Anthony Olascuaga in April.

On the other side, Budler (35-4, 11 KOs) etched his name into the annals of boxing history by capturing the WBA minimumweight world title with a first-round knockout of Karluis Diaz in March 2014. He showcased his mettle with four successful defenses until a loss to Byron Rojas in March 2016. Budler made a triumphant return by securing both the WBA and IBF light flyweight titles through a decision victory against Ryoichi Taguchi. Although he relinquished the IBF strap and lost the WBA title in his first defense, a 10th-round TKO defeat against Hiroto Kyguchi in December 2018, the 35-year-old veteran remains resilient. Budler has managed to accrue a 3-0 record since losing his title, highlighted by a decision win over former WBO champion Elwin Soto.