Takashi Uchiyama will aim to defend his super featherweight crown for a ninth time as part of a WBA world title tripleheader on Dec. 31 in Tokyo, the Watanabe Gym announced on Thursday.

In what will be his first match since defeating fourth-ranked challenger Daiki Kaneko in his eighth successful title defense a year ago, Uchiyama will fight ninth-ranked Israel Perez of Argentina at Ota Ward Gymnasium.

Kohei Kono will make his first defense of the super flyweight title he won in March when he takes on fifth-ranked Norberto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic.

Ninth-ranked Ryoichi Taguchi will challenge light flyweight champion Alberto Rossel of Peru.