The Japanese standout will face perennial junior bantamweight contender Israel Gonzalez for the vacant WBO title next Monday at Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

"I'm happy to have received another shot after moving up a weight class," Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) told The Ring. "I'm working hard to wear the belt around my waist again and become a three-division champion."

After losing his WBA and WBC 112-pound titles to Ricardo Sandoval, Teraji took some time and assessed his options.

"Losing was a shock," he admitted. "But I changed my mindset, working harder to become a champion again. I wanted to make a comeback right away. I did not think of retiring and went back to the gym after a month's rest."

In the fight with Sandoval, Teraji, now 34, was hit more than we're accustomed to and will have to be careful of that against his Mexican opponent.

This vacant title opportunity comes seven months after a proposed championship contest in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was shelved at the eleventh hour as then-IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia withdrew through weight-related illness.

"[Gonzalez] seems like a tricky opponent, but I believe I will be able to catch him if I keep pressing my attack," he said.

"He's known for landing rapid-fire combinations, so I have to be careful not to take too many shots, even while guarding."

Teraji, a 12-year professional who has gone 16-2 in world title fights during his career, is preparing diligently with one specific goal in mind.

"My goal now is to become a three division champion, so my motivation is incredibly high," he said.

Gonzalez, The Ring's No. 7 junior bantamweight contender, has similarly been a professional for a dozen years now but fallen short in four previous world title opportunities. He suffered a 10th-round stoppage to then-IBF titleholder Jerwin Ancajas in February 2018, before a 12-round points loss by WBA ruler Kal Yafai nine months later.

The 29-year-old dropped a decision against Yafai's conqueror Roman Gonzalez (UD 12) in October 2020 before being outboxed by WBC beltholder Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez by the same margin in September 2022. Nonetheless, the tough Mexican is riding a four-fight win streak heading into perhaps his final world title shot.