Ricardo Sandoval reeled in one of the biggest upsets of the year last week when he traveled to enemy territory in Japan to unseat one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters in Kenshiro Teraji.

Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs) stunned the unified WBA and WBC flyweight champion Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) by majority decision despite suffering a knockdown.

The final result was a surprise development for principals in the sport, and even for Sandoval promoter Oscar De La Hoya.

“I was shocked, especially going all the way to Japan and fighting in somebody else's backyard,” De La Hoya said on DAZN. “We know that it's impossible to win a decision, but he pulls it off and is coming back as a world champion. Fighters — never give up. You have one loss, two losses, three losses — do not give up on yourself. You can be the next Ricardo Sandoval and become a world champion.

“He knew that it was his last shot, and he knew that he had to do it now. It was his time. That's what happens with fighters when you have confidence and go inside the ring and let it all out. You train so hard in the gym, so just let it out. Don't leave anything inside the ring, and don't leave it up to the judges. Just fight hard, and that's exactly what he did. He believed in himself.”

“El Nino” Sandoval has been a mainstay in recent years for Golden Boy, as the 26-year-old from Rialto, California, has been featured on the undercard of prominent shows. Sandoval has scored seven wins in a row since a highly competitive majority-decision loss to David Jimenez in 2022. The only other loss of Sandoval’s nine-year career came in his fifth fight during a four-rounder in Mexico by majority decision.

Sandoval came into the Teraji clash as the world’s No. 5-rated flyweight by The Ring; Teraji was No. 1. With two titles in tow, Sandoval has emerged as the top power player in the 112-pound division. Other champions include IBF beltholder Masamichi Yabuki and WBO titlist Anthony Olascuaga. The Ring title is vacant.

A title unification bout against the Angeleno Olascuaga (9-1, 6 KOs) makes all the sense for Sandoval and the Los Angeles-based Golden Boy in what would be a slugfest between Southern California natives.

Olascuaga, The Ring’s No. 8 flyweight, has fought in Japan five times in a row and defended his title for a second time in March with a unanimous decision win against Hiroto Kyoguchi. The lone loss of Olascuaga’s career came against Teraji by ninth-round stoppage in 2023.