TANIGUCHI WINS WBO ASIA-PACIFIC TITLE, TARGETS WBO WORLD 105 DIVISION CHAMP VIC SALUDAR
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Nov 2018
Masataka Taniguchi of Japan beat erstwhile undefeated Joel Lino of the Philippines by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title in Bangkok, Thailand.
After the victory, Watanabe Promotions, which handles Taniguchi, made known their plan to challenge Lino?s countryman, Vic Saludar, the reigning WBO minimumweight world champion. The target date is February 2019.
The 24 year old Taniguchi (11W-2L,7KO?s), lost in his bid to win an OPBF title last year by majority decision against another Japanese, Tsubasa Koura. He bounced back with wins against Thai Patiphan Prajuabsook and Filipino Reymark Taday.
Taniguchi?s fight against Lino was held Tuesday at Bangkok?s Ram100 Boxing Stadium. The scorecards of the three Thai judges were ? Mekin Sumon ? 116-112, Surat Soikrachang ? 119-109 and Sungworn Klungboonkrung ? 119-109. The referee was Sawaeng Thaweekoon also from Thailand.
The 23 year old Lino had a 10-0-1,3KO?s record going into this fight. This was his first attempt to win any type of title.
Taniguchi has also beaten Filipinos Dexter Alimento, Vincent Bautista and Joey Bactul.
Saludar (18-3,10KO?s) took the WBO world title by unanimous decision against Japanese Ryuya Yamanaka last July in Kobe, Japan. Saludar knocked down Yamanaka in round seven which was the turning point of the fight.
A little more than a month after the fight, Yamanaka announced his retirement after doctors diagnosed that he had subdural hematoma or bleeding between the thin membranes that cover the brain.
Photo: Masataka Taniguchi (middle) celebrates after his win.
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