![](https://wbcboxing.com/wp-content/uploads/teraji-retained-1182x675.jpg)
World Boxing Council light flyweight champion, Japanese Kenshiro Teraji, TKO’d former world champion Hekkie Budler in the ninth round, this Monday at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
It was broadcast on Amazon Prime and ESPN .
From the outset, Budler tried to take control of the ring but Teraji managed business with his long jab, maintaining his rival at a barge pole distance.
In the second round, Kenshiro went on to the offensive, landing left hooks to the body, while Hekkie tried to keep up the pace and counterpunch.
Teraji kept controll, but Budler showed fightiing spirit, even though he was sometimes caught flush by the champion’s thudding combinations.
The end came in round 9. Teraji attacked and Budler could no longer respond, or defend himself from the sustained onslaught, backed agsinst the ropes, thus obliging Mexican referee Lupe García to stop the fight there and then.
Teraji improved to 22-1 (14KOs). The victory was his fourth in a row since he regained his WBC title with a third-round knockout of compatriot Masamichi Yabuki.
Budler ips to 35-5 (11KOs) in an unsuccessful attempt to become world champion again.
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