One of the most intriguing tactical battles of the March 15 fight card in Japan, Shokichi Iwata vs. Rene Santiago, promises a mix of action and strategy.

Both fighters are comfortable engaging in toe-to-toe exchanges, yet they also possess the skills to counter and punish mistakes.

Both have solid size for the division, which allows them to fight off the back foot when necessary. However, Santiago is more likely to rely on counterpunching, while Iwata—fighting in front of his home crowd—will want to deliver an aggressive, dominant performance in his first title defense.

At 32 years old, Santiago is three years older than Iwata.

Experience-wise, they are fairly equal—both have fought in championship fights and both have suffered defeats at the top level.

Neither fighter wastes time in the ring. Both are high-volume punchers, frequently throwing combinations.

However, output can decrease depending on the opponent.

For example, in his title-winning fight, Iwata overwhelmed his opponent with a relentless assault and scored a knockout. However, neither fighter always gets into full domination mode—when facing an elite opponent, they both tend to be more methodical.

Iwata holds an edge in accuracy, landing cleaner, sharper punches, particularly with his power shots.

Both fighters competed twice in 2023, but their results were different:

Santiago suffered a loss but rebounded with a victory. Iwata has not lost since 2022, when he fell to Jonathan Gonzalez—the same fighter who outboxed Santiago in 2024. Last year, Iwata won his title, which will now be at stake in this fight.

Statistically, Iwata has the harder punch—his knockout percentage is nearly 10% higher than Santiago’s.

And his fights back up the numbers.

Iwata’s biggest strength is precision. He doesn’t swing wildly or rush forward recklessly. Instead, he maintains control, picks his shots carefully, and maximizes damage with accuracy.

Both fighters have proven durability:

Neither has ever been stopped. Both have solid defensive skills, strong chins, and tight guards.

Scoring a clean knockout in this fight won’t be easy. If a stoppage occurs, it will likely come from accumulated damage rather than a single punch.

This is an undeniable advantage for Iwata.

He will be defending his title in front of his home fans, while Santiago—who is used to fighting away from Puerto Rico—will be competing in Japan for the first time.

Iwata seized his championship moment in dominant fashion, knocking out Noriega in just three rounds to claim his belt.

He is younger, in excellent form, fighting at home, and positioned for a title unification if he wins. The motivation is clear.

Santiago, having rebounded from a loss with a decision victory, isn’t coming just for a paycheck—he will fight to win. But at this stage, Iwata appears to have the superior skill set.

Expect a competitive fight, but Iwata’s overall boxing class may be a level above at this point in their careers.