On January 6, 2023, the 28-year-old WBO strawweight world champion, Masataka Taniguchi (16-3, 11 KOs), faced a 28-year-old Filipino boxer Melvin Jerusalem (19-2, 11 KOs), in a title defense fight.
Taniguchi came in to the fight on a 5-fight win streak with a 57% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 8 months and 15 days. Jerusalem was on a 8-fight win streak with a 52% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 4 months and 13 days.
Melvin Jerusalem made very easy work of Masataka Taniguchi, stopping the champion via TKO in the 2nd. Jerusalem improves his record to 20-2 (12 KOs), while Taniguchi adds a loss to his record at 16-4.
On February 26, 2019, a 25-year-old Masataka Taniguchi (11-2, 7 KOs) got a shot at the strawweight WBO title held by 28-year-old Filipino boxer Vic Saludar (18-3, 10 KOs).
Taniguchi came in to the fight on a 3-fight win streak with a 53% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 13 days. Saludar was on a 4-fight win streak with a 47% KO rate, and fighting after a layoff of 7 months and 13 days.
Vic Saludar defeated Masataka Taniguchi via unanimous decision and successfully defended his WBO strawweight title. Saludar improves his record to 19-3, while Taniguchi adds a loss to his record at 11-3.
On November 11, 2017, a 23-year-old Masataka Taniguchi (8-1, 6 KOs) and Tsubasa Koura met in the ring in a strawweight bout.
Taniguchi came in to the fight on a 2-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 12 days.
Masataka Taniguchi lost to Tsubasa Koura via majority decision in the 12-round strawweight fight, and adds an loss to his record at 8-2.
On April 9, 2017, a 23-year-old Masataka Taniguchi (6-0, 4 KOs) and Reiya Konishi met in the ring in a strawweight bout.
Taniguchi came in to the fight on a 6-fight win streak with a 66% KO rate, and was fighting after a gap of 3 months and 9 days.
Masataka Taniguchi lost to Reiya Konishi via majority decision in the 10-round strawweight fight, and adds an loss to his record at 6-1.