YOKOHAMA
JULY 30
WHOLE SHOW
IN THE final seconds of the 12th round, Ricardo Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs, 111¾lbs) landed a thudding, all-or-nothing left hand – effectively the last word on a thrilling main event in the Yokohama Buntai against Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs, 111½lbs).
For 36 minutes, Sandoval stood his ground and, despite being dropped in round five, went toe-to-toe with one of Japan’s modern greats, who was competing in his 18th consecutive world title fight in eight years.
Sandoval’s split-decision win (115-112, 113-114, 117-110) must go down as one of the finest overseas victories by an American fighter in the past decade.
Crucially, he settled in early, despite being forced on to the back foot by Teraji in the opening round.
Slowly but surely, his punches began…