Unified Flyweight Champ Kenshiro Teraji: Targeting ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, Akui Fight & Cats

In March, Teraji faced Seigo Yuri Akui (21-3-1, 11 KOs) in a war of attrition already nominated for Fight of the Year amongst fans and media alike. As resilient as Teraji was, Akui proved even tougher on that night, with the two warriors going blow for blow through to the final round. At the start of the twelfth, Akui had a one-point edge on two judges’ scorecards, while the third had Teraji ahead by three. 

Sensing he needed something dramatic, Teraji unleashed a right uppercut followed by a straight right hand that sent Akui stumbling backward. The referee immediately jumped in to stop the fight. While initial reactions on ESPN+ questioned the timing of the stoppage, Akui’s collapse into the referee’s arms from sheer exhaustion affirmed the stoppage was justified. In the weeks that followed, as fans continued to rave about the battle, Teraji reflected on what was going through his mind heading into that final round.

“I understand that people liked the fight as it’s rare to see that ‘walk-off’ stoppage,” Teraji told FightsATW. “The key there was that I could keep my mind focused in that exhausting, tough fight. I owe that to my chief trainer, Kenta Kato, and the whole team. Without their voice and courage, I could have been broken down mentally. Of course, I did not take the fight lightly from the beginning, but I was a little surprised how Akui was determined to make it a war and how he studied me and prepared very well. 

“His aggression ruined my first plan to push him back with my jabs, and that cost me some rounds to get comfortable. In the later rounds, Kato told me to use Akui’s timing to find my timing, and it worked. Then, my right hand caught him. When I went to the final round, I did not mean to knock him out, but I thought I had to dominate the round to win the fight. Of course, I was tired, but I was very focused mentally at that time. Those hard fights I got through taught me that I cannot win at this level without stamina, both physically and mentally.” 

Does Kenshiro Teraji Want To Be SuperFly?

After the war in March, rumors swirled that Teraji was eyeing a move up to the 115-pound super flyweight division in pursuit of new glory. But those whispers were silenced recently when Teraji signed to defend his WBA and WBC flyweight titles against top contender Ricardo Sandoval (26-2, 18 KOs), best known for his July 2024 win over former WBO champion Angel ‘Tito’ Acosta. With the Sandoval bout now official, the question remains: will this be the last time Teraji fights at 112—and who does he have his eye on at Superfly?

“Yes, I want to fight ‘Bam’ (Jesse Rodriguez),” said Teraji. “But he is a big name, and I understand that I have to win any world title at 115 first to deserve to ask him for a fight. I know it’s not easy, but I do my job to make it happen. I want that fight because I want to see myself fighting as an underdog. That way, I believe, that’ll make me stronger because the boxers that challenged me are so tough! They are motivated.

“I am not really interested in collecting other belts in this division. (Masamichi) Yabuki, Tony (Anthony Olascuaga), I’ve already beaten them, so I’m not really motivated by them. And I don’t think it’s a good idea to take the time to fight for other belts one by one moving forward.”

As Teraji ponders his move to super flyweight, in a perfect world, who would he like to fight? “I want to fight Bam.”

Kenshiro Teraji Fighting in the U.S. Soon?

As undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue’s star continues to rise, Japan’s presence in U.S. boxing has grown—with fighters like Teraji gaining recognition thanks to his all-action fighting style. Eager to make his U.S. debut, Teraji has his sights set on a potential super fight with Bam Rodriguez. But before that, he would like to get at least one fight done so he can acclimate himself to the American fight scene and its unique atmosphere.

Teraji has experienced the U.S. fight scene firsthand. His most recent visit took him to the Commerce Casino in Southern California, where he watched his friend—women’s WBO super flyweight champion Mizuki Hiruta—compete on a Tom Loeffler 360 Promotions card. That atmosphere is for the hardcore fans, and Teraji got a whiff of what it means to perform in that environment.

“I would love to fight in the U.S.!” said Teraji. “I like the way the fans enjoy boxing shows; it looks like a party. They appreciate good fights and hate boring fights; it’s very obvious. That would be great to fight in that atmosphere. It may be a challenge too, as it would test my mental toughness. Japanese boxing fans are basically very nice, so they don’t boo foreign fighters. The fans in the U.S. boo foreigners at the beginning but respect them when they entertain them no matter where they are from.

“I enjoyed the show (the 360 Promotions event). It was like a party venue. When I see a boxer booed during a ring walk, I imagine how I would feel if I were him. I will need a test match (for mental toughness) before I can have a big fight here (in the U.S.). Actually, it was not the first time for me to visit a fight venue in the U.S. I watched Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2017 in person, and Naoya Inoue fought that night in Carson, CA, as well.”

Kenshiro: Being A Mentor, Sparring Junto Nakatani & His Cats

Teraji made the long journey from Japan to support the women’s WBO champion Hiruta—a friend and mentee still early in her professional rise. At 33, Teraji admits he is often the oldest fighter at press events, yet remains eager to chase the sport’s toughest challenges while he’s still competing at an elite level. For Hiruta, having someone like Teraji to look up to can only be a powerful source of inspiration as she navigates the steep climb toward boxing greatness.

Despite his playful persona outside the ring, Teraji still wrestles with the idea that others look up to him—especially since he’s never viewed himself as a pound-for-pound fighter. “I’ve never thought I would be someone’s idol or something like that… I am totally honored to be named in the Ring’s PFP list, but I, myself, never thought I would be one of the ten best active boxers in the world. I don’t think that way, though I always want to be a better boxer.”

While in Los Angeles to support Hiruta, Teraji made time to train at several local gyms—one of which brought him face-to-face with unified bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, a former sparring partner. Sources told FightsATW that Nakatani admitted Teraji was the best he had ever faced, whether in sparring or in a fight. Praise doesn’t come much higher from someone knocking on the door of a 2026 super fight with Inoue. But true to form, Teraji won’t brag or boast about it—self-promotion just isn’t in his DNA.

“Yes, I have sparred with Junto (Nakatani) on some occasions, but it was a long time ago. He was tall and not easy to manage distance, but I can say that I could do what I wanted to do against Junto at that time.” Teraji was sure to say “at that time,” so fans on social media don’t take his words out of context.

But when it’s all said and done, what makes Teraji the happiest are his two cats, Mofu and Petch. If you follow Teraji on social media, you’ll see that when he’s at home, the two cats get all his attention. “Thank you for mentioning my cats,” said an excited Teraji. “Mofu is a four-year-old male Norwegian Forest cat. Petch is a one-year-old male Scottish Fold. I take care of them and keep my home clean for them. We three always sleep together. When I am out, I drop them off with my parents. I always miss them.”

As Teraji nears his July 30 showdown with Sandoval, one thing is abundantly clear: he is determined to fight in the U.S. and be a part of a big event. His message to fans, as that dream inches closer to reality?“I will keep my career up in order to fight in a big venue in the U.S. someday, so please support me when I make it!”

With Turki Alalshikh spearheading blockbuster cards made possible by the Riyadh Season’s unmatched budget, the window for super fights has never been more open. Let’s see if Teraji can get his wish and be involved in a big fight in the U.S. this year or next.