Kazuto Ioka wins title in 7th fight at the age of 21

[rochemback]

It's a shame the smallest weight divisions get so little attention, so here's one to watch.
Kazuto Ioka, Japanese competing at minimumweight, just won his first world title in his 7th (!) fight. And he did not do it against some bum either, no, he just stopped one of the top dogs in the division, previously undefeated Thai boxer Oleydong Sithsamerchai. He dropped him in the second round and then KOed him with a left hook to the body in the fifth.

Pictures from the weigh in:



Ioka with Gamboa:

[oaklandstephen]

dayum! thanks for the info

[King Koopa]

With the power of Hajime no Ippo, these Japanese boxers are starting to take over the lower weights

[rochemback]

Pics from the fight:




Yuriorkis Gamboa was attending the fight again, as the two share a trainer, Ismael Salas from Cuba.

[rochemback]

5th round on youtube:

[Shadows]

I'm not surprised that Ioka won, only surprised that it happened so quickly.

Sithsamerchai is a pretty good fighter, but in recent fights he's faded down the stretch. I thought if Ioka was going to win, it'd be due to a late surge in the fight. Supposedly Sithsamerchai had trouble making weight in previous fights......

I've only seen the fifth round, but I'm a bit surprised at how composed he was. I've seen some of his previous fights and while he showed, he often got a little ****y; he go dropped for a flash KD against Amol because of showboating.

[rochemback]

I'm not surprised that Ioka won, only surprised that it happened so quickly.

Sithsamerchai is a pretty good fighter, but in recent fights he's faded down the stretch. I thought if Ioka was going to win, it'd be due to a late surge in the fight. Supposedly Sithsamerchai had trouble making weight in previous fights......

Yes, he said himself that he wants to finish him quickly (in the first 7 rounds), probably for conditioning reasons...
Nonetheless a very impressive win for Ioka!


Full fight on Youtube, by the way, in 2 parts:

[TR vs. GB]

Is this kid the real deal? I would love to see a great Japanese boxer and same trainer as Gamboa kid must have skills.

[Shadows]

Yes, he said himself that he wants to finish him quickly (in the first 7 rounds), probably for conditioning reasons...
Nonetheless a very impressive win for Ioka!


Full fight on Youtube, by the way, in 2 parts:

Yeah, I had read that comment about him wanting to finish it within seven.

But you're right, it's an impressive win. Good luck to Ioka, he hasn't been sheltered early in his career, that's for sure.

Sithsamerchai really is a pretty good fighter, a good counter puncher which is a bit of a rarity among Thais. He does have his flaws and problems though.

Thanks for the links.

[RichCCFC]

who's the *****