WBC flyweight world champion Kenshiro Teraji and WBA ruler Seigo Yuri Akui will meet in a highly anticipated title unification tilt on Thursday, March 13, at Ryōgoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
This two-belt showdown tops a world title tripleheader that also features WBO flyweight world champion Anthony Olascuaga making his second title defense against former two-weight world champion Hiroto Kyoguchi and Japanese standout Shokichi Iwata defending the WBO light flyweight strap versus Puerto Rico’s Rene Santiago.
The three world title fights will stream live and exclusively on ESPN+ in the U.S. starting at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.
Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs) enters his 17th consecutive world title appearance, a staggering eight-year run that includes two light flyweight title reigns. In March 2022, he avenged his only pro defeat by knocking out Masamichi Yabuki in three rounds. He became a unified world champion by stopping Kyoguchi before moving to flyweight in 2024. Teraji knocked out Cristofer Rosales that October to capture the vacant WBC flyweight world title. Akui (21-2-1, 11 KOs) beat longtime champion Artem Dalakian by unanimous decision in January 2024 and cemented his champion status with decision wins over Taku Kuwahara and Thananchai Charunphak later that year.
Los Angeles native Olascuaga (8-1, 6 KOs) was stopped by Teraji in 2023 in his first attempt at a world title. Last July, in his second flyweight bout, he knocked out Riku Kano in three rounds to win the vacant WBO flyweight title. Olascuaga made his first defense in October with a first-round stoppage over former world champion Jonathan Gonzalez. Kyoguchi (19-2, 12 KOs) attempts to become a three-weight world champion and looks to recapture a world title more than two years removed from a knockout loss to Teraji in a light flyweight title unification battle.
Iwata (14-1, 11 KOs) has won five straight, including last October’s third-round stoppage of Jairo Noriega to snag the vacant WBO light flyweight crown. Santiago (13-4, 9 KOs) is making his second attempt at a world title. He lost a decision to then-WBO light flyweight champion Jonathan Gonzalez in March 2024 before rebounding with a one-sided decision over Ricardo Astuvilca that October.
