Kenshiro Teraji & Carlos Canizales Go To War But Is Ruined By Bad Scorecards

The fight was a war, and all week, both men told the media how much respect they had for each other and how difficult this fight would be. Canizales’ power was evident right from the start of the first round, but Teraji kept his composure and stuck to his game plan of implementing the left jab. In the second round, Teraji punched with Canizales and landed an overhand right that hit his temple, which scored the first knockdown of the fight. Canizales looked out on his feet but somehow was able to weather the storm and make it through the round.

At the start of the third round, Canizales came out like a bull from his corner, immediately applied pressure, and landed a straight right, which sent Teraji down, prompting the referee to give him the ten count. Teraji was hurt but came roaring back with the left jab and right uppercut. It was the type of action that, if held anywhere else, would cause the crowd to go nuts, but in Japan, it’s customary to keep reactions low until the end of each round.

You weren’t wrong if it seemed like the fight was going in circles. Canizales would move to his left, and Teraji would follow. The ebbs and flows of this fight were incredible, so those who woke up bright and early for it were compensated adequately. Canizales’ shots were taking their toll, but Teraji’s punishing blows forced Canizales to stay on the stool for a few extra seconds before the start of each round.

Here is where the controversy comes into play. In rounds 11 and 12, Teraji, for some reason, decided to solely use his left jab and use his feet to move around the ring. It almost reminded us of Oscar De La Hoya’s strategy against Felix Trinidad, which ended up costing him the fight in 1999. There was a thought that maybe Teraji had hurt his right hand or, because of open scoring, thought he had the fight in hand; therefore, he did not want to take any risks. Whatever it was, Teraji didn’t seem comfortable doing it, and that should’ve cost him the fight, but it didn’t. Teraji secured the victory by winning the last two rounds, which had social media in an uproar.

What to make of Kenshiro Teraji’s performance

There is no question that Teraji is a great champion, but one has to believe that all the brutal fights he’s been in have taken a toll on him. He’s 32 years old, and although that isn’t old for boxing, it is when you speak of fighters from the bantamweight division on down. Teraji’s defense wasn’t as good as in previous fights he’s been in, which led to not only the knockdown but the amount of punishment he took.

Teraji needs to take some time off and rest while looking back at this fight to see what he could have done better. Should Canizales get a rematch? Absolutely, but that may not be the best strategy for Teraji right now. A unification with the other champions in the division seems more appealing, and a rematch down the road with Canizales could be made after he ages out a little more. Whichever avenue Teraji chooses to pursue, one thing is for sure: fight fans will tune in as he is exciting to watch. As for Canizales, he made a name for himself yesterday, so his next fight will be highly anticipated.