The highly anticipated boxing match between Rene Santiago and Masataka Taniguchi took place on Friday, April 3rd, 2026. This significant 12-round light-flyweight (108 lbs, 49.0 kg) bout was the main event at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. The fight had major championship implications, with both the WBA and WBO world light-flyweight titles on the line.
Rene Santiago’s Record
Current WBA and WBO light-flyweight champion Rene Santiago entered this championship defense with an impressive professional boxing record of 15 wins, 4 losses, and 0 draws (15-4-0), including 9 knockouts. He was recognized as the world’s No.1 light-flyweight contender. His recent fight history includes a loss to Jonathan Gonzalez in 2024, which he subsequently rebounded from with consecutive victories against Ricardo Astuvilca, Shokichi Iwata, and Kyosuke Takami.
Masataka Taniguchi’s Record
Challenging for the titles was former WBO champion Masataka Taniguchi, who came into the fight with an official record of 21 wins, 5 losses, and 0 draws (21-5-0), securing 15 of his victories by knockout. He was ranked as the No.10 fighter in the light-flyweight division. Taniguchi’s recent ring appearances include a 2024 defeat to Thanongsak Simsri, which he followed up with wins against Condor Inaba and Takeru Inoue.
Fight Result
Rene Santiago successfully defended his titles, defeating Masataka Taniguchi by unanimous decision after a competitive bout. The judges’ scorecards reflected Santiago’s dominance, reading 117-110, 116-111, and 114-113 in favor of the reigning champion.
