Rene Santiago vs Kyosuke Takami Preview Dec. 17th, 2025
There’s a fine Junior Flyweight Title Unification battle over in Tokyo, Japan this Wednesday, December 17th as unbeaten WBA Champion Kyosuke Takami of Japan takes on WBO Boss Rene Santiago of Puerto Rico in a 12-rounder. Takami won his title in July when he halted Erick Rosa in the 10th round. Santiago last fought in March, also in Tokyo, when he upset Shokichi Iwata via a unanimous decision for the WBO Belt. This week’s fight can be seen on U Next in Japan.
Santiago vs Takami Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Rene Santiago +340
- Kyosuke Takami -500
My Pick
Santiago is 33-years-old and makes the ring walk with a mark of 14-4 with 9 Ko’s and has boxed 106 rounds since making his pro debut in 2014. He measures 5-feet-3-inches tall with a 62.5-inch reach and seems to have enough power as 64.3 per cent of his victories have been by stoppage, including three of his last five. His first pro defeat came at the hands of Waldemar Pagan by six-round unanimous decision in 2016 and he dropped another six-round unanimous decision two years later to Geovani Garcia Barragan.
His third loss was a 10-round unanimous nod to Yudel Reyes in April, 2022 in a shot at the vacant WBO NABO Minimumweight Title and then he lost to Jonathan Gonzalez by unanimous decision in March, 2024 in a shot at the WBO Light Flyweight Belt. Santiago beat Israel Vazquez by 10-round unanimous decision in 2020 for the vacant WBO Latino Light Flyweight Belt and defended it against Gerardo Zapata by way of second-round disqualification in December 2022 and against Carlos Ortega by ninth-round TKO in April, 2023. He then added the vacant WBO International Light Flyweight Belt in October, 2024 with a 10-round unanimous nod over Ricardo Astuvilca.
The 23-year-old Takami owns a perfect record of 10-0 with 8 Ko’s. He’s fought just 48 rounds as a pro since making his debut in 2022 due to his above-average power, which sees his knockout ratio ranked at 80 per cent. He’s gone the distance just twice as a pro in his 10 bouts. Takami measures just over 5-feet-5-inches with a 65.5-inch reach for a 2.5-inch edge in height over Santiago as well as three inches in reach. Takami was an amateur high school boxing star in his homeland and has fought exclusively in Japan.
Until beating Erick Rosa the last time out, his most-recognizable opponent gad been Wulan Tuolehazi of China, with Takami beating him via an eight-round unanimous nod in July, 2024. Takami also stopped Toshiki Kawamitsu in the sixth round this April to take the Japanese Light Flyweight Title. All 10 of Takami’s opponents entered the ring with a winning record. He has recorded three knockouts in the first round; one in the second; one in the fifth; two in the sixth and one in the 10th and has gone the eight-round distance just twice in his career.
Prediction…
Takami is 10 years younger than Santiago, is bigger, has far more power and is fighting at home. But Santiago beat similar odds in Japan earlier this year when taking the title from Iwata. Takami needs to be wary of Santiago’s experience here. The fight may come down to the will to win and heart. So basically, whoever lets his hands go the most and shows he wants to win it will have the edge and I believe that could be Takami. However you can never count Santiago out.
Takami has the edge in most departments.
Play: Takami -500 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Kyosuke Takami betting • Rene Santiago betting