BN Fight Facts: Kenshiro Teraji edges Carlos Canizales in early frontrunner for Fight of the Year

THE RESULT: In a battle full of motion and cruel exchanges, it was in the finish the skill of Kenshiro Teraji to battle in multiple fashion which noticed him safe a majority determination in opposition to Carlos Canizales as we speak (January 23) in Osaka, Japan. Both males had durations of success, and certainly each scored knockdowns, but it was Teraji who was at instances in a position to recuperate by boxing and shifting and it was Teraji who confirmed components to his sport Canizales, bull-like and decided, maybe lacked. This distinction would consequence in Teraji retaining his WBA and WBC light-flyweight belts by scores of 114-112, 114-112 and 113-113.

KEY MOMENTS: There have been, in reality, lots of key moments in this battle on account of the ferocious nature of the exchanges, however two large ones occurred early. Both knockdowns, the first arrived in the second spherical when Teraji landed a wise counter proper on Canizales which staggered the challenger and had him considerably cleverly grabbing on to Teraji’s physique as he spiralled in direction of the canvas. This meant that not solely did Canizalez hit the deck, however Teraji did, too, whereupon it turned tough for the referee to disentangle them (what with Canizales holding on to Teraji’s left leg for pricey life).

The second key second, in the meantime, arrived in the very subsequent spherical. This, the third, was the spherical in which Canizales made his first large breakthrough of the evening, doing so with a proper hand of his personal which landed flush on Teraji’s brow and induced him to the touch down. Now, with one knockdown apiece, the battle was splendidly poised going into its second quarter.

RECORDS: The 32-year-old Teraji’s file now stands at 23-1 (14), whereas Canizales, 30, falls to 26-2-1 (19).

TALKING POINT: Whereas Canizales was constant together with his work all through, and got here on very sturdy in the closing levels, there was a way with Teraji that he took rounds off as the battle neared its conclusion. This change in method not solely gave Canizales hope and momentum, nevertheless it additionally had the challenger feeling as if he had carried out sufficient to safe the win when the closing bell sounded. Indeed, to take a look at the two, you’ll assume there was just one winner, with Canizales lifted in the air by his nook workforce and Teraji, in distinction, showing relatively glum in his nook, neglecting to boost even an arm.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? The apparent factor to say following a battle of this high quality is that there needs to be a direct rematch. It was shut sufficient, too, in phrases of the scorecards, for a rematch to make full sense and, what’s extra, with each boxers now in their thirties, there isn’t any time to waste. First, although, they have to heal, for make no mistake, this was a gruelling, punishing affair, the affect of which each will really feel in the coming days.