Masataka Taniguchi

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]

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]

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]