Kenshiro Teraji vs. Seigo Yuri Akui Headlines World Title Tripleheader – Full Card Preview

Kenshiro Teraji (24-1, 15 KOs) and Seigo Yuri Akui (21-2-1, 11 KOs) will soon have the chance to become a unified world champion.

Their bout headlines a Teiken Promotions card at the Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. Boxing fans in the country can catch the action live on U-Next. Those in the United States can do so with ESPN+. In Canada, it will be broadcast on TSN+ and Sky Sports Action will have the event for those in the United Kingdom.

Ahead of this March 13 card, Big Fight Weekend previews each bout that will be part of the ESPN+ broadcast.

Kenshiro Teraji vs. Seigo Yuri Akui Fight Card Preview

Kenshiro Teraji vs. Seigo Yuri Akui

This flyweight clash will see Teraji put his WBC world title at stake. On the other hand, Akui’s WBA belt will also be on the line. Teraji defeated Cristofer Rosales in October last year to win his title, which had been vacant. This will be his first time defending the WBC strap. Teraji is also a former unified light flyweight champion.

Akui won his title in early 2024 against Artem Dalakian. Since then he has defended the WBA belt twice. This will be his first opportunity to become a unified world champion. Akui was also the Japanese flyweight champion for just over two years.

Between the two, Teraji has had greater success in knocking out opponents. However, Akui will have a slight reach advantage over the WBC champion. That being said, Teraji has fought at a higher level for much longer than his opponent and has almost always triumphed. Expect him to become unified in a second weight class via stoppage against Akui.

Anthony Olascuaga vs. Hiroto Kyoguchi

This flyweight bout will see Anthony Olascuaga (8-1, 6 KOs) defend his WBO world title against Hiroto Kyoguchi (19-2, 12 KOs). The American won his belt in July last year against Riku Kano. He has made one defence of it since. Four of Olascuaga’s first five fights took place in the United States (one bout was in Panama). Beginning in 2023, he has fought exclusively in Japan. On March 13, he will have his fifth fight in the country.

Kyoguchi is a former IBF minimumweight and WBA light flyweight champion. He has not held a world title since losing to Teraji in 2022. Since then, he is 3-1 in the fights that he has had. In 2024, he lost to Vince Paras in May before avenging the loss in October.

While Kyoguchi has more experience in world title fights, his opponent has greater momentum behind him. The Japanese fighter’s experience and skillset should help him make this a competitive contest, but expect Olascuaga to figure him out and ultimately win via unanimous decision.

Shokichi Iwata vs. René Santiago

Shokichi Iwata (14-1, 11 KOs) will defend his WBO light flyweight title against René Santiago (13-4, 9 KOs). The defending champion won his title in October last year against Jairo Noriega (the belt was vacant going into the fight). Thiswill be Iwata’s first time defending the title. In 2022, he unsuccessfully fought for the same title against Jonathan González, losing via unanimous decision.

Santiago also challenged for the WBO light flyweight belt in early 2024, losing to González just like Iwata. This will be his second time challenging for a world title. His last five bouts have seen him fight in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico.

Iwata should have little to no trouble against his opponent on Thursday. The Japanese fighter is the better skilled of the two. Expect him to win via stoppage.