Masataka Taniguchi (谷口将隆, born 19 January 1994) is a Japanese professional boxer who has held the WBO mini-flyweight title since December 2021.
Masataka Taniguchi | |
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Statistics | |
Real name | 谷口将隆 |
Weight(s) | Mini-flyweight |
Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
Reach | 64+1⁄2 in (164 cm) |
Born | (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 28) Kobe, Japan |
Stance | Southpaw |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 19 |
Wins | 16 |
Wins by KO | 11 |
Losses | 3 |
As of June 2022, he is ranked as the world's fourth best mini-flyweight by BoxRec, The Ring and TBRB.[1][2][3]
Taniguchi made his professional debut against Thawi Chaisat on April 3, 2016, and won the fight by a first-round knockout. He amassed an 8-1 record over the next 15 months, achieving six of those victories by stoppage.[4]
Taniguchi challenged the reigning OPBF mini-flyweight titlist Tsubasa Koura on November 11, 2017. He lost the fight by majority decision. Two judges scored the fight for Koura as 115-114 and 115-113, while the third judge scored it as a 114-114 draw.[5]
Following his failed OPBF title bid, Taniguchi faced Patiphan Prajuabsook on December 31, 2017. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[6] Taniguchi was next scheduled to face Reymark Taday on February 8, 2018, and won the fight by a sixth-round technical decision.[7] Taniguchi fought Joel Lino for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title on November 13, 2018. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Two judges scored eleven of the twelve rounds for Taniguchi, while the third judge scored it 116-112 for him.[8]
These three victories earned Taniguchi the change to challenge the reigning WBO mini-flyweight champion Vic Saludar, in the latter's first title defense, on February 26, 2019.[9] Saludar won the fight by unanimous decision, with two judges scoring the fight 117-111 in his favor, while the third judge awarded him a 118-110 scorecard.[10]
Taniguchi was scheduled to face the undefeated prospect Kai Ishizawa on September 21, 2019. He won the eight-round bout by unanimous decision, with scores of 77-74, 77-74 and 78-74.[11]
Taniguchi was scheduled to fight Hizuki Saso for the vacant Japanese mini-flyweight title on December 3, 2020. He won the fight by a tenth-round technical knockout, and was awarded all nine prior rounds by two of the three judges, while the third scored eight of the nine rounds for Taniguchi.[12] Taniguchi made his first Japanese mini-flyweight title defense against Tatsuro Nakashima on June 7, 2021. He dominated the bout, winning all four rounds prior to the fifth-round technical knockout of Nakashima.[13]
On October 7, 2021, the WBO ordered Wilfredo Méndez to make his third mini-flyweight title defense against the mandatory challenger Masataka Taniguchi.[14] On October 27, 2021, a successful purse bid was held, which had a minimum bid of $40,000. The bout would take place on December 14, 2021, at the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.[15] Taniguchi won the fight by an eleventh-round technical knockout. He first knocked Méndez down with a left straight in the second round, which put him in an early point lead, which was made greater after Méndez was deducted a point in the sixth round for excessive holding. Taniguchi upped his output in the eleventh round, forcing referee Nobuto Ikehara to stop the fight with a flurry of punches to which the cornered Méndez did not respond.[16]
Taniguchi is booked to make his first WBO mini-flyweight title defense against Kai Ishizawa on April 22, 2022, in the main event of PBX Phoenix Battle 87, which was broadcast as a pay per view by Abema TV. The bout was a rematch of their September 21, 2019 meeting, which Taniguchi won by unanimous decision. It took place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[17] Although Taniguchi weighed in at 47.6 kg, 0.2 below the championship limit, Ishizawa came in 2.5 kg above the limit. Ishizawa failed to make weight in his second attempt as well, as he weighed in at 49.9 kg.[18] Ishizawa was allowed to compete after making 49.9 kg on the day of the fight, although he was ineligible to win the title. Taniguchi retained the belt by an eleventh-round technical knockout, forcing a referee stoppage with a flurry of punches at the 2:29 minute mark of the penultimate round. He was leading on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, with all three judges having scored the fight 99–91 in his favor.[19]
19 fights | 16 wins | 3 losses |
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By knockout | 11 | 0 |
By decision | 5 | 3 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
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19 | Win | 16–3 | Kai Ishizawa | TKO | 11 (12), 2:29 | 22 Apr 2022 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained WBO mini-flyweight title |
18 | Win | 15–3 | Wilfredo Méndez | TKO | 11 (12), 1:08 | 14 Dec 2021 | Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan | Won WBO mini-flyweight title |
17 | Win | 14–3 | Tatsuro Nakashima | TKO | 5 (10), 1:35 | 7 Jun 2021 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Retained Japanese mini-flyweight title |
16 | Win | 13–3 | Hizuki Saso | TKO | 10 (10), 0:37 | 3 Dec 2020 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | Won vacant Japanese mini-flyweight title |
15 | Win | 12–3 | Kai Ishizawa | UD | 8 | 21 Sep 2019 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
14 | Loss | 11–3 | Vic Saludar | UD | 12 | 26 Feb 2019 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | For WBO mini-flyweight title |
13 | Win | 11–2 | Joel Lino | UD | 12 | 13 Nov 2018 | Ram 100 Thai Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title |
12 | Win | 10–2 | Reymark Taday | TD | 6 (8), 2:16 | 9 Feb 2018 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
11 | Win | 9–2 | Patiphan Prajuabsook | TKO | 3 (8), 1:56 | 31 Dec 2017 | Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | |
10 | Loss | 8–2 | Tsubasa Koura | MD | 12 | 11 Nov 2017 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | For OPBF mini-flyweight title |
9 | Win | 8–1 | Narathip Sungsut | TKO | 1 (8), 2:05 | 30 Jul 2017 | Sumiyoshi Ward Center, Osaka, Japan | |
8 | Win | 7–1 | Benjie Bartolome | RTD | 1 (6), 3:00 | 27 Jun 2017 | Makati Cinema Square Boxing Arena, Makati, Philippines | |
7 | Loss | 6–1 | Reiya Konishi | MD | 10 | 9 Apr 2017 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | For vacant Japanese mini-flyweight title |
6 | Win | 6–0 | Vincent Bautista | UD | 6 | 31 Dec 2016 | Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | |
5 | Win | 5–0 | Dexter Alimento | SD | 8 | 13 Oct 2016 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan | |
4 | Win | 4–0 | Chaowalit Choedram | TKO | 4 (8), 1:32 | 7 Aug 2016 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
3 | Win | 3–0 | Joey Bactul | KO | 2 (8), 1:41 | 19 Jun 2016 | Maasim Municipal Gymnasium, Maasim, Philippines | |
2 | Win | 2–0 | Nonthawat Phengkrajang | TKO | 1 (6), 1:30 | 16 May 2016 | Meenayothin Camp, Bangkok, Thailand | |
1 | Win | 1–0 | Thawi Chaisat | KO | 1 (6), 1:58 | 3 Apr 2016 | Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan | |
Sporting positions | ||||
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World boxing titles | ||||
Preceded by | WBO mini-flyweight champion December 14, 2021 – present |
Incumbent |