When Rene Santiago won the WBO junior flyweight title against Shokichi Iwata in March, he set out his stall. He wasn't content to just be a world champion - he wanted to unify.

On Wednesday, the Puerto Rican will get the chance to do so when facing WBA counterpart Kyosuke Takami at Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

"It's the biggest fight in my division," Santiago (14-4, 9 KOs) told The Ring. "I feel satisfied and full of pride for this big match.

"He's a brave strong boxer, a very good fighter but I'm sure I have the style to beat him."

Santiago, The Ring's No. 3-rated operator at 108-pounds, is used to fighting away from home and hopes to use that experience against his uber-talented fellow titleholder.

"I have fought and won in Dominican Republic, Panama, Nicaragua and Japan and feel comfortable fighting on the road," he continued. "We will take Takami into deep waters like never before, I feel 100 percent ready to become unified champion."

Although Takami is a -400 betting favourite, Santiago's promotional team remain confident their fighter can produce another upset to round off a memorable 2025 campaign.

Felix Zabala, who promotes the 33-year-old alongside father Tuto for All Star Boxing, told The Ring: "It's a very competitive fight, Rene had a great camp and is prepared both physically and mentally for this challenge.

"Once again he will go on the road and prove why he's champion."

Takami (10-0, 8 KOs), The Ring's No. 2-rated junior flyweight, was a good amateur before turning to the paid ranks in July 2022. Since then, he has also moved quickly and stopped grizzled veteran Kenichi Horikawa (TKO 6) in March 2024.

The 23-year-old won the Japanese title against Toshiki Kawamitsu with a finish in the same round, before levelling up with an eye-opening display punctuated by a 10th-round stoppage of Erick Rosa to claim the WBA title on July 30.