Kenshiro Teraji


Kenshiro Teraji, known professionally by his ring name Ken Shiro, is a Japanese professional boxer who has held the WBC light-flyweight title since 2017, and held the OPBF light-flyweight title in 2016.

Background and amateur career

Shiro's father is Hisashi Teraji, a boxer who won the OPBF light heavyweight title. Hisashi's sole professional loss came against future world champion Shinji Takehara. He retired in 2000, at the age of 36. Shiro followed in his father's footsteps and accrued a 58-16 amateur record between 2007 and 2014. Shiro came in second at the 2013 Japanese national championships in the light flyweight division, losing in the final to Tosho Kashiwazaki.

Professional career

Early career

Shiro made his professional debut on August 2014, winning a six-round unanimous decision against Heri Amol. Amol went down in round 4, after a right hand to the body. Shiro won his first belt in October 2015, beating Rolly Sumalpong for the WBC Youth light flyweight title by unanimous decision. During round 1, Shiro was dropped for the first time in his career but he adjusted and did enough to get the win. On his next fight, Shiro went on to claim the Japanese national light flyweight title, beating Kenichi Horikawa with a unanimous decision. On August 2016, Shiro claimed the OPBF title with another unanimous decision win over Toshimasa Ouchi. The bout was Shiro's first 12-round fight.

WBC light flyweight champion

On May 2017, Shiro faced WBC light flyweight world champion Ganigan López on his 10th professional fight. Shiro beat López by majority decision in a closely contested fight.
On September 2017, it was announced that Shiro's first defense would be against former world champion Pedro Guevara at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan. Guevara had previously fought twice in Japan, having unseated Akira Yaegashi to claim the WBC title, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and then losing his title to Yu Kimura in Sendai in a controversial split decision. The fight between Guevara and Shiro was set for 22 October 2017. Guevara started strongly but as the fight went on he started to slow down due to body shots, with Shiro rallying in the second half of the fight and winning another narrow majority decision. After the fight, Shiro called out Ganigan López for a rematch.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
17Win17–0 Randy PetalcorinTKO4, 1:0823 Dec 2019 Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
16Win16–0 Jonathan TaconingTKO4, 1:0012 Jul 2019 Edion Arena, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
15Win15–0 Saúl JuárezUD1230 Dec 2018 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
14Win14–0 Milan MelindoTKO7, 2:477 Oct 2018 Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
13Win13–0 Ganigan LópezTKO2, 1:5825 May 2018 Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
12Win12–0 Gilberto PedrozaTKO4, 1:1230 Dec 2017 Cultural Gymnasium, Yokohama, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
11Win11–0 Pedro GuevaraMD1222 Oct 2017 Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanRetained WBC light-flyweight title
10Win10–0 Ganigan López1220 May 2017 Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, JapanWon WBC light-flyweight title
9Win9–0 Lester AbutanTKO3, 1:578 Dec 2016 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained OPBF light-flyweight title
8Win8–0 Toshimasa OuchiUD127 Aug 2016 Edion Arena, Osaka, JapanWon vacant OPBF light-flyweight title
7Win7–0 Atsushi KakutaniTKO1, 2:5314 Apr 2016 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanRetained Japanese light-flyweight title
6Win6–0 Kenichi HorikawaUD1027 Dec 2015 Oyamazakicho Gym, Kyoto, JapanWon Japanese light-flyweight title
5Win5–0 Rolly SumalpongUD1012 Oct 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanWon vacant WBC Youth light-flyweight title
4Win4–0 Takashi OmaeTKO4, 0:5910 Aug 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
3Win3–0 Katsunori NagamineTKO7, 1:4026 Mar 2015 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
2Win2–0 Phunwanai Wor Surapol2, 1:0119 Oct 2014 KBS Hall, Kyoto, Japan
1Win1–0 Heri Amol63 Aug 2014 IMP Hall, Osaka, Japan