Rene Santiago continues to defy the odds.
The late-blooming junior flyweight claimed his second consecutive undefeated scalp, both in title fights at Tokyo’s famed Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena. Eight months after he upset Shokichi Iwata to lift the WBO 108lbs title, Puerto Rico’s Santiago added the WBA belt to his collection with a 12-round, split decision victory over Kyosuke Takami.
Scores were 116-112 Takami and 115-113 and 117-111 for Santiago, who could not have enjoyed a more spectacular 2025 campaign – one that few saw coming.
Santiago was held in check by the ever-respectful Takami during his attempts to create a contentious fight week. In the ring, the visiting Puerto Rican and current WBO titlist more than had his say as he continues to overachieve after a rough career start.
Takami was the more polished of the two but his suggested power edge – on paper, anyway – was neutralized by Santiago’s in-and-out movement during their U-Next aired co-feature. The undefeated WBA titleholder remained levelheaded throughout the contest, and allowed Santiago to come forward in his best effort to land counter left hooks.
Santiago quickly adapted to the strategy. His aggression was calculated, as he frequently caught Takami off guard with straight right hands over the top of his adversary’s guard.
For his part, Takami sought to make the ring as small as possible as he came straight down the middle with his jab and right hand, and mixed in left hooks to the body for good measure.
That form of aggression didn’t resonate, at least with two of the three judges. Santiago’s ring generalship did, and it also caused fits for Takami’s offensive flow.
Neither fighter scored a knockdown during their competitive 12-round affair. The closest either came to such an occurrence was late in the 9th. Santiago took a stumble shortly after an exchange, but was correctly ruled a slip by referee Steve Willis.
Takami attempted to assert himself as he charged forward with right hands and a left hook. Santiago responded with a counter right that slammed home on Takumi’s unsuspecting chin.
As the bout entered double digit rounds, Santiago reverted to his more traditional form of more movement which limited his opportunities on offense. Takami took advantage of this shift and enjoyed a big 10th round, where he used his jab to set up combinations both to the head and body. His awareness on defense also caused Santiago to frequently just miss with his right hand.
Takami opened the 11th with a left hook upstairs and plenty of bounce in his step. Santiago briefly stood his ground and fired off a right hand to the body. He wisely went back to employing lateral movement as Takami was set to fire off power shots. Takami mercilessly targeted Santiago’s body and came back up top with a left hook. Santiago took the shots well and offered a left hook-right hand combination with roughly 10 seconds to go in the round.
The final three minutes saw Takami unload his arsenal while Santiago sought room to make him miss and make him pay.
Takami often got the better of those moments, as he connected with power shots straight down the middle. Santiago was not without his success, as he planted his feet and landed with enough conviction to briefly cause Takami to take a step back.
Both fighters raised their arm in victory after the final bell before they embraced at center ring. In the end, it was the superior lateral movement and defense of Santiago, 14-4 (9 KOs) that was enough to leave the ring with his title status still intact.
Furthermore, he disrupted Japan’s stranglehold on the lower weights while also adding to Puerto Rico’s current in-ring renaissance. He is now the island’s third current unified titlist, joining strawweight king Oscar Collazo and reigning featherweight queen Amanda Serrano.
Tamaki, 10-1 (8 KOs) suffered his first career defeat, just five months after his July 30 knockout win over Erick Rosa to claim the WBA belt in Yokohama.
