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
