Rene Santiago Decisions Masataka Taniguchi; Daiya Kira in Queue
Unified junior flyweight champion Rene “Chulo” Santiago is enjoying the best stretch of his career at 32, and his recent success in Japan has turned him into a road-tested titleholder willing to defend on hostile ground. That trend appears set to continue with a potential defense against WBA number one contender Daiya Kira.
In his latest outing, Santiago (16-4, 9 KOs) retained his WBA and WBO 108-pound titles with a unanimous decision over Masataka Taniguchi at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. While the official scores (117-110, 116-111, 114-113) favored Santiago comfortably, the fight was more competitive than the cards suggested.
Taniguchi (21-6, 15 KOs) pressed the action early, forcing Santiago to adjust. After a slow start, Santiago found his rhythm by the fourth round. A sharp, counter right-hand in the fifth dropped Taniguchi and shifted the momentum. From there, Chulo relied on his speed, footwork, and timing to dictate the pace. However, Taniguchi’s pressure kept things tense throughout.
This marked Santiago’s third straight fight in Japan. Said move reflects both, financial opportunity and his willingness to face challenges abroad. If Kira, a highly regarded 22-year-old prospect, gets the nod next, Santiago will once again be tasked with silencing a rising hometown threat.
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