Kenshiro Teraji vs Israel Gonzalez Preview July 20th, 2026
Former two-division champion Kenshiro Teraji of Japan takes on Israel Gonzalez of Mexico this Monday, July 20th for the vacant WBO Junior Bantamweight Title as he attempts to win a world title in a third weight class. Teraji is a former Ring, WBA ‘Super’ and WBC Jr. Flyweight Champion who was also a WBC and WBA Flyweight Beltholder. He last fought and lost his flyweight titles 12 months ago when he dropped a controversial split decision to Ricardo Sandoval after decking him midway through the fight. Gonzalez last fought in May when he beat Armando Appel Garcia by a 10-round unanimous decision for the WBC Silver Junior Bantamweight Belt. This week’s 12-rounder from Tokyo, can be seen live in Japan on U-Next while fans in Latin America can catch it on ESPN Knockout.
Teraji vs Gonzalez Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Israel Gonzalez +237
- Kenshiro Teraji -325
My Pick
The 34-year-old ‘Amazing Boy’ Teraji of Kyoto won his WBC Light Flyweight Title from Ganigan Lopez via majority decision in 2017 in just his 10th pro fight. He defended it by majority decision over Pedro Guevara, a fourth-round stoppage of Gilberto Pedroza and a first-round KO over Lopez in their rematch. He followed up with a seventh-round stoppage over Milan Melindo before beating Saul Juarez by unanimous decision and then stopping Jonathan Taconing and Randy Petalcorin both in four rounds. Teraji then downed Tetsuya Hisada via a unanimous decision before losing to Masamichi Yabuki in their first fight in an upset in 2022 when he was stopped on his feet in the 10th round.
Teraji rebounded well from his first loss by stopping Yabuki in the third round in their rematch six months later and then halting the previously-unbeaten world champion Hiroto Kyoguchi in the seventh round to take his WBA “Super” Light Flyweight Crown and The Ring version. Teraji defended both belts by stopping Anthony Olascuaga in the ninth round and against former world champion Hekkie Budler in the same round in 2023. In January, 2024 Teraji defended the belt once more via a majority decision over Carlos Canizales. Teraji then moved up to the flyweight division and stopped Cristofer Rosales in the 11th round to take the vacant WBC Flyweight Belt.
The baby-faced Teraji has boxed 209 rounds since turning pro in 2014. After all of his recent action, he makes the ring walk with an impressive record of 25-2 with 16 Ko’s despite running into a little bit of trouble outside of the ring a few years ago. He’s not really known as a one-punch knockout artist but 64 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage including six of his past seven and eight of the last 10. His power shouldn’t be underestimated though especially when combined with his speed. Teraji stands 5-feet-5-inches tall with a 64.5-inch reach. He’s displayed a solid chin so far and possesses fine boxing skills against quality opposition as none of his 27 opponents entered the ring with a losing record as he basically jumped in feet first as a pro.
The 29-year-old Gonzalez enters the contest with a mark of 32-5-2 with 12 Ko’s and has boxed a total of 251 rounds since turning pro back in 2014 as a teenager. He is lacking a bit as far as power is concerned though as just 37.5 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage and he’s halted just one of his last 12 opponents and his record is 8-2-2 over that stretch. Gonzalez measures 5-feet-6-inches tall with a 69-inch reach and has plenty of pro experience against solid opposition. He’s just half-an-inch taller than Teraji but has a 4.5 inch reach advantage.
Gonzalez has already had four shots at a world title during his career and this will be his fifth crack at one. He was stopped in the 10th round by Jerwin Ancajas in 2018 in an attempt at the IBF Super Flyweight Belt and dropped a unanimous decision to Khalid Yafai in a shot at the WBA Super Flyweight Crown nine months later. He also lost a unanimous decision to Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez for the WBA Super Flyweight Belt in 2020 and was beaten by unanimous decision by Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez in a crack at the WBC Super Flyweight Crown in 2022.
His other pro defeat came at the hands of Argi Cortes via a six-round unanimous decision in 2016. Gonzalez’s biggest wins are against Sho Ishida in Japan in 2019 and Angel Serrano in 2024. The two draws on his record are a 10-round affair with Jose Martinez-Mercado in March, 2021 for the vacant WBO NABO Bantamweight Title and a 10-round battle with Jonathan Rodriguez in 2023. Just 22 of Gonzalez’s 39 opponents entered the ring with a winning record and he failed to beat six of them. He fell short against superior boxers but proved he can handle himself well enough. While Gonzalez may not possess much in the way of power he has plenty of talent and heart.
Prediction…
Teraji is a fine counter-puncher and is extremely quick but he sometimes throws defence out of the window and just lets his hands go. He’s going to have his hands full with Gonzalez, who is five years younger and has already tasted success in Japan. As long as Teraji is the aggressor and throws a lot of leather each round but doesn’t neglect his defensive duties he should be able to win a close battle and another world title. A somewhat controversial decision or a late stoppage are likely outcomes.
Teraji needs to assert himself each round.
Play: Teraji -325 @ BetOnline.ag
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Israel Gonzalez betting • Kenshiro Teraji betting