Third time’s a charm for Puerto Rican upset king

Late blooming WBA and WBO light flyweight kingpin Rene Santiago heads to Japan for a third consecutive fight, as he defends the spoils of his last two visits against local challenger Masataka Taniguchi. The bout takes place at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, with no word on a UK TV partner at press time.

Read on for my Santiago vs Taniguchi predictions ahead of this enticing scrap.

Santiago vs Taniguchi Odds

Santiago is the favourite for the first time in a while. His two title-winning efforts in 2025 see him priced at 1/3. Taniguchi comes in as your 11/4 shot while the draw is marketed at 12/1.

Santiago vs Taniguchi Fight Preview

Santiago’s name does not elicit the mainstream kudos of Oleksandr Usyk or the sage nods of Terence Crawford. But one could make a damn fine argument that the WBA and WBO light flyweight kingpin was 2025’s Fighter of the Year.

The Puerto Rican pocket rocket twice travelled to Japan as an away fighter last year, unfancied against two of the country’s world champions. At the age of 33 and with a 13-4 record as the year began, Santiago was expected to be cannon fodder. But by the time Auld Lang Syne rang out in sweaty beer halls and Hootenanny-attuned living rooms, Santiago was the unified champion of the world. 

First up for the shock treatment was WBO light flyweight champion Shokichi Iwata. The Japanese star was on a run of six consecutive knockouts, including blasting Jan Noriega out in three rounds to claim the vacant title. But Santiago out-thought and out-thought the favourite at the Kokugikan Sumo Hall to take home the unanimous decision and the title belt.

Fool me once, shame on you and all that. Santiago was shipping off to the Land of the Rising Sun again a few months later to face a Japanese world champion. Kyosuke Takami was a 10-0 prodigy who, at the age of just 23, had won the WBA title from two-weight champ Erick Rosa with a hard-fought display. Santiago was unfancied once again, particularly given the impressive eight stoppages on Takami’s nine-fight ledger. 

Santiago found it tougher going this time, but pressure makes diamonds. The wily 33-year-old sneaked a deserved split nod to unify his WBA strap with Takami’s WBO gong. From undesirable to undeniable; Santiago had reached the top of the mountain after years of struggle.

This assignment is a little different, despite being a third bout against a Japanese national in their home country. Santiago is in unfamiliar territory as the betting favourite. Taniguchi is 21-5 and boasts 15 knockouts. He is also a former WBO minimumweight champion. While this is, on paper, an ‘easier’ assignment, it is still a tricky test on away soil.

But Santiago is on the run of his life. You can imagine the late-blooming Puerto Rican will do whatever it takes to hold onto the spoils of his two unlikely recent victories.

Santiago vs Taniguchi Full Card

Rene Santiago vs Masataka Taniguchi

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Santiago vs Taniguchi Prediction

This is a dangerous fight. Taniguchi can punch and has world championship experience. But Santiago has turned returning from combat in Japan with title belts to show for it into a fine art. I think he repeats the trick a third time and brings the WBA and WBO crowns back home. Santiago is 1/3 for the win.

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