Kenshiro Teraji plans to move up to flyweight and fight for the vacant WBC title, and Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN reports that Teraji officially requested fight against the sanctioning body.

Teraji currently holds the WBC and WBA junior flyweight titles, and generally speaking, sanctioning bodies allow a champion to step up and fight for another if the need arises.

Teraji (23-1, 14 KO) first won the WBC 108-pound belt in 2017 and held it until a disheartening loss to Masamichi Yabuki in 2021, recording five successful defenses. In March, he regained the belt from Yabuki in a direct rematch. 2022, and less than eight months later he crushed Hiroto Kyoguchi to unify the WBA title.

Since then, the 32-year-old Teraji has defended his unified crown three times, most recently on January 1, 2010 on 23 after a hard-fought victory over Carlos Canizales.

Teraji has fought in the junior flyweight division throughout his career, and turned professional 10 years ago in August this year.

The WBC flyweight title until recently belonged to Julio Cesar Martinez, who at the end of May decided to resign and change weight.

Currently, the top five WBC flyweight contenders are Angel Ayala, Francisco Rodriguez Jr, Cristofer Rosales, Sunlit Edwards and Galal Yafai. Ayala could have fought Teraji, but she was also ordered by the IBF to fight Dave Apolinario for the vacant title.

As Frank Martin approaches his June 15 fight in Las Vegas, where he will headline a fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Martin spends a few minutes talking to TMZ about his thoughts on the fight and why he’s ready to take advantage of it times.

Martin on how he feels before the fight

“I feel good, man. Just tapering. You know, we’ve got about two weeks, so we’re dialing back the intensity and being edged, but mentally we’re staying on track. That’s the most critical thing.”

About what challenges Tank faces

“I feel like it gives us a lot of challenges. He’s a balanced, well-rounded player, so he’ll bring out the best in me.”

About how he was the first to defeat Tank

“I feel like I have a lot of things that he and the world and a lot of people might not expect. So I’m just ready to go in there and seize the moment. “

About being the underdog in a match

“This shit has come together. You know what I say: “Bet with me, win with me.” This shit is one of those things, I like it. I devour it, it fuels me, so it is what it is. It’s not going to change, so I just have to go out and do something unexpected.

About how the victory over Tank will affect his career

“It means everything. You know, for many players this moment doesn’t come so easily. So if I get that and I can change the seat, get in that seat, it’s a blessing to have that opportunity.

Following Zhilei Zhang’s emphatic victory over Deontay Wilder over the weekend, the heavyweight fought with Fight Hub TV to react to what happened in the ring and how his tactics worked out best for the former heavyweight titleholder.

Zhang on his reaction to beating Wilder

“I feel really good. It’s something for me in the ring and also for the team… Great fight (Wilder), I have great respect for him. His power is still there, he hit me with a few shots and I felt it, but I was a better man.

“I was able to remain serene, serene and composed (under fire). I was patient and that’s the most vital thing. I would cut off the ring and push it into a corner, making him mentally upset at the same time, and he too would worry about my power. So I think patience was the key today.”

About how he set up Wilder for a knockout

“I used a lot of feints to set it up. I knew he was going to hit me or counterattack me, so I used a lot of feints in the fight. I believe he fell into my trap, so that’s how I set it up.

About Wilder believing the fight shouldn’t have been stopped when it did

“I think that after the count of eight, when the referee counted to nine, he got up, but at the same time mentally he is not in his place. And if the fight continues, it will cause more damage. I think the referee did the right thing.”

About what the victory over Wilder means for him in the future

“I have options. I have a rematch with Joe Parker, AJ doesn’t have an opponent yet.