Puerto Rico’s Rene Santiago successfully defended his unified WBA and WBO light flyweight titles, defeating Japan’s Masataka Taniguchi by unanimous decision at Korakuen Hall. After 12 rounds, the judges scored the bout 115-113, 116-112, and 117-110.
With this victory, Santiago (16-4, 9 KOs) becomes the third Puerto Rican boxer currently holding a unified world title, alongside Xander Zaya and Oscar Collazo, solidifying his place among the island’s elite champions.
The fight unfolded in two distinct halves. Taniguchi (21-6, 15 KOs), a former WBO minimumweight champion, started aggressively, using his speed and combinations to take the early rounds. However, the tide turned in the fifth round when Santiago scored a decisive knockdown, a pivotal moment that shifted momentum in his favor.
From that point, Santiago executed a clear strategy: move, counter, and stay elusive, picking his moments to strike while using his footwork to avoid prolonged exchanges. This tactical adjustment allowed Santiago to control the second half of the fight and secure the unanimous decision.
“ El Chulo” had previously unified the belts last December on the undercard of Tsutsumi vs. Donaire, taking a split decision over Kyosuke Takami. Taniguchi, aiming to become a two-division world champion following a fifth-round TKO of Takeru Inoue in August, fell short in his bid.
In the night’s co-feature, Yukinori Oguni pulled off a huge upset, defeating former Filipino world champion Marlon Tapales by unanimous decision. Defying the odds, Oguni dictated the pace, landed sharp, clean shots, and maintained relentless consistency, earning the nod from all three judges and securing one of the biggest wins of the card
The main event was the highlight of Treasure Boxing Promotion 12, which also featured:
• Tsukuru Midorikawa def. Hisashi Kato by TKO in round 7 (2:12)
• Shinobu Charlie Hosokawa def. Ryusei Kurobe by majority decision (77-75, 77-75, 76-76)
• Kenshin Ogami def. Jonathan Galetto by TKO in round 2
Santiago’s performance demonstrated discipline and adaptability, reinforcing his status as one of the top light flyweights in the world and a leading figure in Puerto Rico’s current boxing landscape.
