Rene Santiago will continue his standout run on the road when he defends his unified WBA and WBO junior flyweight titles against former strawweight champion Masataka Taniguchi on April 3 in Tokyo. BoxingScene has confirmed the bout will be scheduled for 12 rounds, with a formal press conference set for Tuesday to announce the event.
Santiago enjoyed a career-defining 2025, capturing world titles in back-to-back fights on Japanese soil. The 33-year-old from Humacao first stunned Shokichi Iwata with a unanimous decision last March to win the WBO belt, before returning to Tokyo in December to edge unbeaten Kyosuke Takami by split decision and unify the WBA and WBO titles. It will be Santiago’s third straight fight in Japan, a setting that has clearly suited him.
Nicknamed “El Chulo,” Santiago has become one of Puerto Rico’s four current unified champions, all holding WBA and WBO belts across different divisions. His recent run has also extended his current winning streak to three fights, elevating him into Fighter of the Year discussions following his consistency and willingness to travel into hostile territory.
Taniguchi, a 32-year-old Tokyo-based southpaw, will look to become a two-division world champion. He previously held the WBO 105lb title before suffering a second-round knockout loss to Melvin Jerusalem in January 2023. Since then, Taniguchi has rebuilt, including a pair of knockout victories in 2025, most recently stopping Takeru Inoue in five rounds last August.
While there had been earlier speculation about Santiago facing top WBA contender Daiya Kira later this year, that matchup now appears to be on hold.
Image Credit: The Ring