World Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Masataka Taniguchi of Watanabe Boxing Gym will make his first defense of the title against the fifth-ranked Kai Ishizawa of M.T Boxing Gym on Apr. 22 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, the event organizer said on Feb. 22 at a hotel in Yokohama with the both boxers attending.

Left-handed Taniguchi captured the title last December with an 11th-round technical knockout over Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena in Tokyo. It was his second crack at a world title as he lost to then WBO champion Victorio Saludar of the Philippines three years ago.

Taniguchi and Ishizawa once fought in September 2019, in which Taniguchi won an eight-round unanimous decision. Ishizawa won the Japanese minimumweight title left vacant by Taniguchi in January this year by stopping Katsuki Mori of Ohashi Boxing Gym.

The 28-year-old Taniguchi said, ‘’We will be completely different from us when we first fought. I will think up a new strategy from the ground up. I know his strength and will show everything I have in my arsenals without getting careless.’’ While Taniguchi was floored once in that fight, he recovered quickly and overwhelmed Ishizawa with his speed and mobility.

For his part, Ishizawa, 25, said, ‘’I have a feeling that I want to get my revenge rather than challenging a world title. I learned a lot in that loss. Though power is not everything in boxing, I want to capture the world title with KO.’’

Taniguchi has a record of 15 wins, including 10 knockouts, against three losses, while Ishizawa has a 10-1 win-loss tally with nine KOs.

The scheduled 12-round fight will be televised live by Hikari TV owned by NTT Plala Inc.