Kazuto Ioka finishes the year in style
Four-weight world champion Kazuto Ioka (31-2-1, 16KO) started his New Year’s Eve celebrations with a seventh-round KO of Venezuela’s hard-hitting Josber Perez (20-4, 18KO) in their WBA super-flyweight title fight on December 31.
34-year-old Ioka scored three knockdowns, the last of which produced a full 10-count of 2:44 of the eighth round in their ABEMA TV-aired main event on New Years Eve at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Japanese great Ioka hadn’t scored a stoppage win since his stunningly one-sided, eighth-round knockout of unbeaten countryman Kosei Tanaka exactly three years ago in the same venue.
He came straight out for the opening round with the intention of ending that streak, as he unloaded with a left hook inside the very first minute. 28-year-old Perez absorbed the blow well and later attempted to shoulder roll a right hand, only to leave himself open for a left hook around his guard.
The challenger, known as "Avalancha", spent most of the second stanza on the backfoot but was still able to have his moments. He managed to land a pair of shots upstairs to briefly push back the aggressive champion, but the success and respite never lasted as advancing Ioka pinned Perez to the ropes and powerfully snapped the Venezuelan’s head back.
The third round caught fire as both boxers let their hands go in the centre of the ring. Perez attempted to set a trap along the ropes, but missed wildly with an overhand right. Ioka targeted Perez’s body and landed several left hooks to the midriff. Perez rallied back well at the end of the round, but was looking a little drained by the damage sustained already.
In the fourth, Ioka landed a right hand to rock Perez again. Despite being the fight becoming very one-sided, Perez’s infighting ability helped to avoid too much damage.
In the fifth, Perez was being hunted by Ioka and was soon down on one knee and accepted an eight count before action resumed once more. Ioka sent home a straight right that caused Perez to go reeling back into the ropes and back onto the canvas for a second time.
Ioka had Perez hurt again early and late in the sixth stanza and continued to go on the hunt in the seventh. Perez tried with all his might to extend the fight further, but was sent the canvas for a third time courtesy of an overhand right, but on this occasion he wisely remained on his knee as he was counted out.
Ioka secured his 31st victory, now unbeaten in his last nine bouts, including 10-1-1 (7KOs) in New Year’s Eve headliners, which is a boxing tradition in Japan. He once again eclipsed superstar countryman Naoya Inoue (26-0, 23KOs) on Japan’s all-time list for most title fight wins with a total of 20.
He is the first ever male Japanese boxer to become a four-weight world champion in boxing history and many are now calling for the super-flyweight sensation to be included in the Top 10 pound-for-pound rankings. It's already a Happy New Year for Kazuto and set to be a prosperous 2024.
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