IBF minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama said Tuesday that he will make his third title defense on New Year's Eve against Mexican Jose Argumedo.
The fight between Takayama and eighth-ranked Argumedo at Edion Arena Osaka will be paired with WBA flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka's bout against Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina.
"If I continue winning, I'll get to fight the fight I want to," said Takayama, who had hoped to face WBO mimimumweight champion Kosei Tanaka to unify the titles in his second consecutive New Year's Eve bout.