WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka will face seventh-ranked challenger Diego Santillan of Argentina for his eighth title defense on April 16 at Osaka's Bodymaker Colosseum, his Teiken Boxing Gym said Thursday.

The 27-year-old Santillan, who is 23-0 (15 knockouts), will take his first crack at a world title. It will be Yamanaka's first bout since October 2014.

"My balance has been good in training," said Yamanaka, 32, at a news conference in Tokyo. "My opponent has an opening before and after he throws punches. If I strike, then I'll naturally get a KO."

Juiki Tatsuyoshi, the second son of former WBC bantamweight champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, will make his pro boxing debut at the same event in an undercard bout.