The 30-year-old Japanese fighter, like some of his contemporaries, was forced to do some soul searching.

He returned to the win column and became a two-time world champion, almost a year to the day he lost at world-level when stopping Thammanoon Niyamtrong in eight rounds for the WBC strap on March 15.

"The win against Edwin Cano in my comeback fight gave me back the confidence after losing the belt. I was finally able to focus on training again," Iwata (16-2, 13 KOs) told The Ring.

"It had been a year of struggling to keep my boxing career going. The news [confirming] I'd be fighting for the world title again brought tears to my eyes.

"I had been watching Niyamtrong's fights for a long time, so never imagined we'd face each other in the ring ... I was truly happy to secure the win."

It is time for Iwata, The Ring's No. 5 junior flyweight, to turn the page and make a first title defense of his second championship reign against mandatory challenger Erik Badillo on Monday at Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan.

"I recognize him as the toughest challenger out there — an undefeated southpaw ranked number one by both the WBC and WBO," he said.

Having gone through a tough time after losing his first world title, the Tokyo resident remains resolute that he will retain the belt this time around. He has been working in the gym tirelessly alongside trainer Sendai Tanaka.

"I am determined to win this title defense at all costs," he said. "I want to earn the right to speak out and declare my next goal."

Badillo (19-0, 8 KOs), The Ring's No. 7 junior flyweight, has been a professional since 2018 and fought most of his career in his native Mexico.

The 30-year-old southpaw has since beaten Neider Valdez (TKO5), Luis Rodriguez (TKO10), veteran Miguel Angel Herrera (UD8), outpointed Gerardo Zapata over 10 rounds in a WBC eliminator and arrives after dominating former beltholder Elwin Soto over 10 rounds on November 29.