Rene Santiago vs. Masataka Taniguchi - April 3, 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Rene Santiago to defend 108-pound titles vs. Masataka Taniguchi Apr. 3

The Puerto Rican won their twice last year to pick up the WBO and WBA junior flyweight titles and will return to Tokyo and face former strawweight beltholder Masataka Taniguchi at the legendary Korakuen Hall on April 3, it was announced at a press conference today.

The show will be promoted by Treasure Island Boxing and All Star Boxing. It will be televised on U-Next in Japan, ESPN Knockout in Latin America and Wapa in Puerto Rico.

Santiago (15-4, 9 KOs) picked up the WBO belt by beating Shokichi Iwata (UD 12) and repeated the trick when he edged home against WBA ruler Kyosuke Takami in a unification by 12-round split decision on December 17.

Meanwhile, Taniguchi (21-5, 15 KOs) has worked his way back up after losing his WBO strawweight title to Melvin Jerusalem in January 2023. He is current ranked No. 9 by The WBO and No. 7 by the WBA.

"I'm very happy to have Santiago back in Japan, a country I have been working for the past 33-years," Santiago's promoter Tuto Zabala of All Stars Boxing told The Ring. "We're delighted to work with Masayuki Ito, a former world champion who won and lost a world title on our show in Kissimmee, Florida. He's a new generation of promoter in Japan.

"Santiago is in great shape, he's been training in Puerto Rico and he will be ready, he's happy and eager to be back in Japan where they have treated us very well. For us this is like fighting at home and looking forward to the match.

"Taniguchi is a strong fighter, it's a good fight. We believe Santiago can beat him, that's why we took the fight. Our purpose this year is to have him defend his titles three to four times, so we can take advantage of the momentum. We will make sure we keep both belts and then look for bigger fights after this one."

Santiago, rated at No. 1 by The Ring at junior flyweight, went 9-3 over the first seven years of his career and didn't look to be going far but then he embarked on a three-fight win streak, taking the unbeaten records of Gerardo Zapata (DQ 2) and Kevin Vivas (KO 12). That saw him face WBO 108-pound titlist Jonathan Gonzalez. Although Santiago put up a spirited effort, he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision.

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican headed to Japan and kick-started his career with a pair of upset wins over Iwata and Takami.

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Next month

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Fight Week!!

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Rene Santiago ready to keep hot streak going with Taniguchi defense

Rene Santiago enjoyed quite the breakout 2025.

The 33-year-old Puerto Rican won the WBO junior flyweight title against Shokichi Iwata last March and followed that by adding the WBA belt when he surprised Kyosuke Takami on December 17.

He will look to continue his impressive run in the Orient when he meets former strawweight titlist Masataka Taniguchi at Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, on Friday.

"This will be a very interesting fight," Santiago (15-4, 9 KOs) told The Ring. "Taniguchi is a true warrior — strong, experienced, and a former world champion.

"However, the king of the division today is René "El Chulo" Santiago. I've already defeated two world champions on their home turf, and on April 3rd I'll be going after my third victory in Tokyo."

Despite being a decided underdog in both title fights, going overseas has proved a happy hunting ground for him.
"Iwata and Takami were two major challenges for me in 2025," he said. "They are young warriors who gave everything in the ring to win, but I was able to defeat both of them through skillful boxing and ring intelligence.

"Only my trainer, my family, and my team truly believed I could beat Iwata — and we proved it. Then we went after the unification bout with Takami, and we defeated him in the same year. Now my full focus is on the challenge ahead: Taniguchi."

Santiago remains a modest person, who despite last year's accolades and his newly found fame, still works a day job.

"I currently work 40 hours a week, Monday through Friday," he said. "I've been a custodian at the University of Puerto Rico in my hometown of Humacao for the past 12 years. I train in the mornings and work in the afternoons.

"Without a doubt, my life has changed over the past year. I've received many blessings from God and enjoyed tremendous success. I made history, and that will remain forever."

Having achieved more than most would have thought possible last year, Santiago intends to keep pushing the boundaries.
"My main objective is to defeat Taniguchi and then pursue the other world champions in my division," he remarked. "On March 15th, Iwata beat Knockout for the WBC world title. I would love the opportunity to fight him later this year."

His promoter, Tuto Zabala of All Star Promotions is proud of his fighter and welcomes the opportunity to return to Japan.
"He's demonstrated he's the best 108-pounder in the world," said the long-time promoter. "It's been an incredible ride, he's a great kid and he deserves what's happening to him. We're very excited to go back there and after this fight, he's eager to win more titles."

Taniguchi, rated at No. 9 by The Ring at junior flyweight, lost his first world title shot against WBO strawweight boss Vic Saludar (UD 12). However, he rebounded and claimed the same title when he upset Wilfredo Mendez (TKO 11).

He made one successful defense before losing to Melvin Jerusalem (TKO 2). He has gone 5-1 since, the lone loss came against future IBF 108-pound titlist Thanongsak Simsri (SD 12) for the OPBF title, but he has gone on to capture the national and OPBF titles when he stopped Takeru Inoue (TKO 5) in his most recent outing on August 3.

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Masataka Taniguchi seeks life-changing outcome with Santiago challenge

Masataka Taniguchi has been a world champion at strawweight and on Friday, he bids to become a two-weight titleholder.

Taniguchi, The Ring's No. 9-rated junior flyweight contender, challenges in-form WBA and WBO ruler Rene Santiago at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan with revenge very much on his mind.

"This fight is not only about becoming a two-division champion, but also changing my life for the better," Taniguchi (21-5, 15 KOs) told The Ring.

"Japan's top two junior flyweights [Shokichi Iwata, Kyosuke Takami] have already been defeated, so I want to win this fight and prove Japanese fighters are strong."

The 32-year-old was suitably impressed by the Puerto Rican's wins last year over his countrymen.

"In the fights against Iwata and Takami, I felt that he did not use exactly the same strategy, but made slight adjustments," he said. "My impression was that he executed his game plan perfectly against those two very tough opponents.

"He is very good at picking up points, and can fight effectively at both close range and long distance. He adapts well depending on the situation in the ring, has excellent stamina, and I see him as a truly outstanding champion."

Meanwhile, Taniguchi is on a two-fight win streak since narrowly losing a 12-round split decision to future IBF 108-pound titlist Thanongsak Simsri in December 2024. In his most recent outing, the Japanese fighter impressively stopped Takeru Inoue in five rounds to win the vacant Japanese and regional 108-pound titles on August 3.

"Although he did not have a long professional career, he had an extensive amateur background and had won national tournaments, so I was very cautious," he said when reflecting on his last outing.

"However, I was able to execute my game plan exactly as planned and show the difference in ability [of a seasoned fighter] against a promising young fighter, giving me tremendous confidence."

All of which he brings into this encounter, remaining in an upbeat mood before another world title challenge.
"If I win this major fight, I am certain my boxing career and life afterward will become even more extraordinary," he said, before pointing out the potential opportunity for revenge against Simsri.

"In addition, Iwata won the WBC title on March 15 so a fight with him is also a possibility. There are many bright opportunities ahead, I am not thinking about losing at all."

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René Santiago, Taniguchi, Tapales & Koguni Make Weight. All Set for Friday in Tokyo

Puerto Rican unified world champion René Santiago and former Japanese titleholder Masataka Taniguchi made weight and are ready for their showdown this Friday, April 3, at Korakuen Hall. Santiago weighed in at 107.8 pounds and Taniguchi at 107.1, both comfortably within the junior flyweight limit (108 lbs).

El Chulo (15-4, 9 KOs) will defend his WBO and WBA titles in his third straight fight in Japan. Santiago captured the WBO 108 pound belt in March 2025 by unanimous decision over Shokichi Iwata and unified with the WBA after a split decision win against Kyosuke Takami in December to become the unified champion.

“This has been a disciplined camp from start to finish, and I’m arriving at this fight exactly the way a world champion should,” said Santiago. “I know what it means to defend these titles in Japan, and I’m fully prepared for the challenge in front of me.”

Taniguchi (21-5, 15 KOs), a former WBO minimumweight champion, will attempt to regain his position at home. He held the belt from 2021 to 2023 after stopping Puerto Rican Wilfredo Méndez, before losing it by knockout to Filipino Melvin Jerusalem.

The co-feature is also set. Filipino Marlon Tapales weighed 123 3/4 pounds, just 40 grams over the limit, while Japanese Yoshimi Koguni weighed 123 1/2 pounds. Koguni’s team approved the difference, and the fight will proceed as scheduled.

This event is the 12th edition Treasure Boxing, Tokyo annual boxing show, promoted by former world champion Masayuki Ito. The full card will be broadcast in Puerto Rico on WAPA Deportes and in Latin America via ESPN KnockOut, starting at 4:00 a.m. ET.

Tokyo is ready for a Friday night of explosive action: world titles on the line and high stakes fights that promise fireworks from start to finish.

Weights from Japan:

Rene Santiago 107.8 pounds
Masataka Taniguchi 107.1 pounds

Marlon Tapales 123 3/4 pounds(40g over)
Yoshimichi Oguni 123 1/2 pounds (56kg)

Tsukuru Midorikawa 153 3/4 pounds
Hisashi Kato 153 1/4 pounds

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Date: April 3, 2026
Location: Korakuen Hall - Tokyo, Japan
TV/Stream: U-Next (Japan)
Time: 5:15 pm JST | 4:15 am ET | 1:15 am PT | 9:15 am UK

Fight Card

Unified WBA & WBO Light Flyweight Championship
Rene Santiago vs. Masataka Taniguchi

10 Round Featherweight Bout
Yukinori Oguni vs. Marlon Tapales

10 Round Super Welterweight Bout
Tsukuru Midorikawa vs. Hisashi Kato

6 Round Middleweight Bout
Shinobu Charlie Hosokawa vs. Ryusei Kurobe

4 Round Super Featherweight Bout
Kenshin Ogami vs. Jonathan Galetto

[handsofstone]

Santiago with the UD, not a classic tbh but it was competitive, just not enough quality punches landed from either guy, Taniguchi began well, looked a bit sharper off the counter but round 5 Santiago had him down from a counter right hand, Taniguchi wasn't hurt but Santiago pulled away afterwards, Taniguchi continued to press but Santiago used the ring well and got his own counters off, as I say not a classic, not a lot to go on but it did look like Santiago got the better of it in the second half

[Manrae]

Tapales fell all the way off