 After Handig's injury, Takayama earned the right to challenge for the world title.Takayama defeated Mario Rodríguez via a unanimous decision with the scores of 119–109, 117–111 and 115–113 to be crowned the IBF mini flyweight world champion at the Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico on March 30, 2013.He was the first foreign boxer for ALA Promotions, and became the third ever world champion for them.