Kazuto Ioka: record, next fight and profile →
It is rare that any single year goes by without each of boxing’s seventeen weight divisions delivering the goods somewhere along the way. What often makes the difference between a brief spasm of memorable and a great era is the combination of depth and matchmaking to consistently deliver over an extended period of time.
MACAO - New Years celebrations in awesome Macao got much more exciting as champions and challengers made weight for the triple world title header tomorrow (Dec 31) at the plush Whynn Palace Cotai here in the "Vegas of Asia."
One bright spot that has endeared boxing fans from around the globe are the championship fights that finish up each calendar year from Japan. The popular New Year’s Eve celebrations are shared with the rest of the world with their most talented title holders and hopefuls showcased. This year is no different and on some level more anticipated than year’s past with the level of competition elevated, and more eyes ready to watch as streaming services pick up the action for the West.
In Macao, China, Japan's former triple world champion Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13KOs) conducted a public training session with a view to his upcoming fight against another former multi-division world champion Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23KOs) of the Philippines. They will battle for the vacant super flyweight world title endorsed by the World Boxing Organization - as the headline bout taking place at Wynn Palace Kotai, on December 31 and it's going to be televised directly across Japan by Japan TBS TV.
By Cliff Rold - Boxing does not have seasons. It does, and has always had, dates or times of the year where the expectation of big time boxing heightens. Today, in the United States, fans know Cinco De Mayo and Mexican Independence Day weekend are likely to have big fights. The dates can shift a bit but...
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) headquartered in the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico, has assigned Las Vegas Hall of Fame referee Robert Byrd, 75, as the third man in the coming clash for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight title between world-class Filipino fighter Donnie Nietes, 36, and Japanese star Kazuto Ioka.
CEBU, Philippines - In one of the most intriguing and competitive boxing battles between Asian star fighters, three-division world champion Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KO's) of the Philippines clashes against Japanese standout Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KO's) for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Title on New Year's Eve at the plush Wynn Palace Cotai in the vibrant city known as "The Vegas of Asia," Macao; and Nietes' strength and conditioning coach American Nick Curson, feels more than confident on the chances of his fighter.
New Year's Celebrations in awesome Macao have got so much more exciting with the confirmation of three world title fights set to thrill boxing fans December 31 in the former Portuguese Colony. In the evening's main event, 3-division world-champions Kazuto Ioka (23-1, 13 KO's) of Japan and Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KO's) of the Philippines collide for the vacant WBO Super Flyweight World Title.
At their ongoing annual convention in Panama, the World Boxing Organization has sanctioned the WBO interim-cruiserweight title for the bout between Maxim Vlasov (42-2, 25 KOs) of Russia and Krzysztof Glowacki (30-1, 19 KOs) of Poland.
The ratings for HBO’s third “Super Fly” broadcast were significantly lower than the network’s second telecast that featured 115-pound fighters. Nielsen Media Research released ratings Tuesday that indicated HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” card Saturday night drew a peak audience of 421,000 during the second of three fights – a 12-round draw between Filipinos Donnie Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KOs) and Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 20 KOs). The Nietes-Palicte fight, which was contested for the vacant WBO super flyweight title, also averaged more viewers (349,000) than opener of that three-bout broadcast and the main event from The Forum in Inglewood, California.