Sandoval dethrones flyweight world champion Teraji

Kenshiro Teraji lost his WBC and WBA flyweight titles to Ricardo Rafael Sandoval in Yokohama, Japan, in an upset.

In the fifth round, Sandoval, 26, climbed off the canvas to face the two-weight world champion.

The scorecards for California native Sandoval, 115-112, 115-112, and 113-114, did not quite reflect a brilliant, closely contested fight.

“I feel incredible. I had no idea that we would be at this stage since I started at the age of ten, Sandoval said.

Teraji, 33, who suffered his first defeat of his career since 2021, received no complaints despite the scorecards.

Teraji may now consider his future after winning the lightweight and flyweight divisions.

His defeat put an unhappy night in store for the assembled Japanese fans, who also witnessed Daigo Higa once more come dangerously close to becoming a bantamweight world champion.

Another American was the one who broke people’s hearts, as Texan Antonio Vargas won the WBA bantamweight title by unanimous decision in a last-gasp knockdown.

Higa beat the traveling champion in the fourth round, but the traveling champion won in the final round.

Higa has lost its third world championship fight in a row against a Japanese team at home.

Following Yoshiki Takei’s pointless defeat in September, Seiya Tsutsumi’s draw with him in February came with a subsequent draw.

When Tsutsumi, the previous champion, was forced to resign due to a long-term injury, Vargas was made the WBA world champion.

“I didn’t want the outcome I wanted.” It’s a title defense, I suppose. I’d prefer to receive my rematch. Vargas responded, “I look forward to being back.”

Tsutsumi, who carried his own WBA belt, walked into the ring to call out Vargas after the match.

Higa might win the match-up despite Vargas’ openness to the match-up after a thrilling contest.