Masataka Taniguchi

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Masataka Taniguchi
Statistics
Real name谷口将隆
Weight(s)Mini-flyweight
Height5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Reach64+1⁄2 in (164 cm)
NationalityJapanese
Born (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 28)
Kobe, Japan
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights18
Wins15
Wins by KO10
Losses3

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.

As of November 2021, he is ranked as the world's seventh best mini-flyweight by BoxRec and eighth by The Ring.[1][2]

Professional career[]

Early career[]

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.[3]

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.[4]

Following his failed OPBF title bid, Taniguchi faced Patiphan Prajuabsook on December 31, 2017. He won the fight by a third-round technical knockout.[5] Taniguchi was next scheduled to face Reymark Taday on February 8, 2018, and won the fight by a sixth-round technical decision.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

Japanese mini-flyweight champion[]

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.[11] 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.[12]

WBO mini-flyweight champion[]

Taniguchi vs. Méndez[]

On October 7, 2021, the WBO ordered Méndez to make his third mini-flyweight title defense against the mandatory challenger Masataka Taniguchi.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15]

Taniguchi vs. Ishizawa[]

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 will be broadcast by Hikari TV. The bout is a rematch of their September 21, 2019 meeting, which Taniguchi won by unanimous decision. It will take place at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.[16]

Professional boxing record[]

Professional record summary
18 fights 15 wins 3 losses
By knockout 10 0
By decision 5 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
19 N/A N/A Japan Kai Ishizawa N/A - (12) 22 Apr 2022 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Defending WBO mini-flyweight title
18 Win 15–3 Puerto Rico Wilfredo Méndez TKO 11 (12), 1:08 14 Dec 2021 Japan Ryōgoku Kokugikan, Tokyo, Japan Won WBO mini-flyweight title
17 Win 14–3 Japan Tatsuro Nakashima TKO 5 (10), 1:35 7 Jun 2021 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Retained Japanese mini-flyweight title
16 Win 13–3 Japan Hizuki Saso TKO 10 (10), 0:37 3 Dec 2020 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan Won vacant Japanese mini-flyweight title
15 Win 12–3 Japan Kai Ishizawa UD 8 21 Sep 2019 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
14 Loss 11–3 Philippines Vic Saludar UD 12 26 Feb 2019 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan For WBO mini-flyweight title
13 Win 11–2 Philippines Joel Lino UD 12 13 Nov 2018 Thailand Ram 100 Thai Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand Won vacant WBO Asia Pacific mini-flyweight title
12 Win 10–2 Philippines Reymark Taday TD 6 (8), 2:16 9 Feb 2018 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11 Win 9–2 Thailand Patiphan Prajuabsook TKO 3 (8), 1:56 31 Dec 2017 Japan Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
10 Loss 8–2 Japan Tsubasa Koura MD 12 11 Nov 2017 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan For OPBF mini-flyweight title
9 Win 8–1 Thailand Narathip Sungsut TKO 1 (8), 2:05 30 Jul 2017 Japan Sumiyoshi Ward Center, Osaka, Japan
8 Win 7–1 Philippines Benjie Bartolome RTD 1 (6), 3:00 27 Jun 2017 Philippines Makati Cinema Square Boxing Arena, Makati, Philippines
7 Loss 6–1 Japan Reiya Konishi MD 10 9 Apr 2017 Japan Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan For vacant Japanese mini-flyweight title
6 Win 6–0 Philippines Vincent Bautista UD 6 31 Dec 2016 Japan Ota City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
5 Win 5–0 Philippines Dexter Alimento SD 8 13 Oct 2016 Japan Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
4 Win 4–0 Thailand Chaowalit Choedram TKO 4 (8), 1:32 7 Aug 2016 Japan Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan
3 Win 3–0 Philippines Joey Bactul KO 2 (8), 1:41 19 Jun 2016 Philippines Maasim Municipal Gymnasium, Maasim, Philippines
2 Win 2–0 Thailand Nonthawat Phengkrajang TKO 1 (6), 1:30 16 May 2016 Thailand Meenayothin Camp, Bangkok, Thailand
1 Win 1–0 Thailand Thawi Chaisat KO 1 (6), 1:58 3 Apr 2016 Japan Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, Japan

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Boxing Ratings - minimum". boxrec.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Ratings - Strawweight". ringtv.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Masataka Taniguchi v Narathip Sungsut". boxrec.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  4. ^ "小浦翼12戦無敗で王座初防衛　世界王者宣言でた". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  5. ^ "【長谷川穂積の拳心論】７度目防衛の田口　大きな試合の後の目標設定が大切". daily.co.jp. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  6. ^ "谷口が3度目の挑戦にむけ発進！". watanabegym.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  7. ^ "谷口がWBO･AP王者に　日本SB決定戦は中川vs田村". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  8. ^ Reyes, Lito Delos. "Saludar to defend WBO title vs. Japanese boxer". pna.gov.ph. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  9. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. "Vic Saludar defeats Masataka Taniguchi in first title defense". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  10. ^ "谷口将隆が世界戦敗退から再起　日本挑戦権獲得　 オールKO勝ちの石澤はダウン奪うも及ばず". boxingnews.jp. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  11. ^ "谷口将隆10回ＴＫＯ勝ちで新王者　日本ミニマム級". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  12. ^ "谷口将隆が初防衛に成功、仲島辰郎にＴＫＯ勝利　日本ミニマム級". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  13. ^ Donovan, Jake. "Wilfredo Mendez-Masataka Taniguchi: WBO Orders Mandatory Strawweight Title Fight". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  14. ^ "谷口将隆　12・14尚弥とダブル世界戦　国技館開催に「やる気出た」". sponichi.co.jp. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  15. ^ Donovan, Jake. "Masataka Taniguchi Drops, Stops Wilfredo Mendez In 11th Round, Wins WBO Crown". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  16. ^ Donovan, Jake (22 February 2022). "Masataka Taniguchi First WBO Title Defense Set, April 22 Rematch With Kai Ishizawa In Tokyo". boxingscene.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.

External links[]

Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBO mini flyweight champion
December 14, 2021 – present 		Incumbent
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