World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico humbly said on Dec. 8 his title defense against top-ranked Masataka Taniguchi of Watanabe Boxing Gym on Dec. 14 will be a close match.

The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena. The fight will serve as the chief supporting card for the World Boxing Association’s ‘’super’’ and International Boxing Federation’s bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym’s title defense against the IBF’s fifth-ranked Aran Dipaen of Thailand.

The following are the question-and-answer sessions compiled by Ohashi Boxing Gym.

Question: Ever since your arrival in Japan (on Nov. 28), how has been your training?
Answer: Everything has been fine. I have trained enough at the gym.

Q: Your title defense will be held soon. What kind of feeling do you have?
A: I am in a superb physical condition and am ready to go home with victory.

Q: Japanese fans are interested in this title match. What kind of fight do you want?
A: I can hardly wait for the fight. I feel people’s enthusiasm that the upcoming fight will be a close match.

Q: What is your impression about Taniguchi?
A: He is a good boxer and is suitable for a world title challenge.

Q: What kind of food have you eaten in Japan?
A: Ever since my arrival in Japan, I have been eating meat. The Japanese meat tasted first class.

The 25-year-old Mendez has a record of 16 wins against a loss, while Taniguchi, 27, has a 14-3 win-loss tally with nine KOs. Both are southpaws.

It will be Mendez’s third defense of the title he captured from Victorio Saludar of the Philippines in August 2019. Taniguchi dropped a lopsided decision in his world title challenge against the then world champion Saludar in February 2019. Mendez grabbed the title from Saludar.　Photo by Ohashi Boxing Gym