Japanese champion Yutaka Niida will face No. 15-ranked Columbian challenger Ronald Barrera in Tokyo on March 4 in his fourth defense of the WBA minimumweight title, boxing officials said Thursday.

Niida and Barrera will fight at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo with Mexican gloves, which are thinner and often described as puncher's gloves, and the champion said he is aiming for a knockout for the first time in his world title fights.

Niida has a career record of 19 wins, including eight knockouts, against a loss and three draws.

Barrera is 14-1-1 with eight knockouts.