Teraji v Budler, Nakatani vs Cortes and undercard bouts to stream live on ESPN+ from Tokyo’s Ariake Arena at 5 am ET

Kenshiro Teraji, Japan’s reigning WBC/WBA light flyweight champion, will go toe-to-toe with Hekkie Budler, the tough two-time world champ hailing from South Africa.

WBC, WBA Light Flyweight Title Bout

• Defending his titles, Kenshiro Teraji steps onto the scales at 107.25 lbs.
• Challenging for the belt is Hekki Budler, who weighs in at 107.75 lbs.

WBO Junior Bantamweight Title Bout

• Junto Nakatani, holding the title, comes in at 114.75 lbs.
• The challenger, Argi Cortes, is close behind at 114.5 lbs.

Special Attraction: Exhibition Bout

• The widely-followed kickboxing sensation, Tenshin Nasukawa, transitions to boxing and weighs in at 123 lbs.
• His opponent for the night, Luis Guzman, weighs in slightly lighter at 122.25 lbs.

Adding to the night’s excitement, Junto Nakatani, Japan’s undefeated southpaw, will be stepping into the ring to defend his WBO junior bantamweight world title against Argi Cortes, a seasoned contender from Mexico. This entire lineup will be available for live streaming in the U.S. on ESPN+ during the early morning hours.

Boasting an impressive 21-1 record with 13 KOs, Teraji secured his first world title in May 2018, clinching the WBC’s 108-pound belt after defeating Ganigan Lopez. Despite a minor hiccup in September 2021, where he lost to Masamichi Yabuki, Teraji rebounded spectacularly, regaining his title and subsequently unifying the WBC and WBA belts. Teraji then demonstrated his prowess by defending his titles against Anthony Olascuaga with a ninth-round TKO this past April.

Budler, with a solid 35-4 record and 11 KOs to his name, clinched the WBA minimumweight world title with a stunning first-round KO against Karluis Diaz back in March 2014. He successfully defended his belt four times before losing to Byron Rojas in 2016. However, displaying his undeniable resilience, Budler bounced back, and has since managed to maintain a winning streak of 3-0 since losing his title.

In the co-main event, Nakatani, currently undefeated with a 25-0 record, including 19 KOs. He secured the vacant WBO flyweight world title in November 2020, and after two successful defenses, he made the strategic decision to move up in weight class. He made a significant impact, claiming the WBO junior bantamweight title with a spectacular knockout against former WBA champ Andrew Moloney. His challenger, Cortes, barely missed out on defeating Juan Francisco Estrada last year and recently secured a majority decision win against Adolfo Castillo Gonzalez.

Alongside the main events, Tokyo will showcase:

Former kickboxing champ, Tenshin Nasukawa, will be going up against the undefeated Mexican boxer Juan Flores Aceves in an eight-round junior featherweight match. Nasukawa, who won his pro boxing debut against Yuki Yonaha in April, will be looking to maintain his momentum, while Aceves, fresh off an eighth-round TKO against Adolfo Perez Lopez, will be hoping to keep his winning streak alive.

Anthony Olascuaga from Los Angeles, who is keen to recover from his defeat against Teraji, will face off against Giemel Magramo, the former Filipino world title challenger, in a highly anticipated light flyweight bout.

When and Where Can You Watch Teraji vs. Budler?

What’s the Date and Time for the Fight?

Date: Monday, September 18 Main card: 5 a.m. ET / 11 a.m BST

Where is the Bout Taking Place?

Location: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan

When Should You Tune in for the Main Event?

Main event ringwalks (approx): 7 a.m. ET / 1 p.m BST

How Can U.S. Fans Catch the Action Live?

Broadcast: LIVE on ESPN+

So, What’s the Punch Line?

Remember, the main event kicks off early. The main card gets going at:

5 a.m. ET / 11 a.m BST.