Kazuto Ioka: record, next fight and profile →
Kazuto Ioka made the first successful defense of his flyweight title, cruising to a virtual shutout of Argentina's Roberto Domingo Sosa over 12 rounds Sunday evening at home in Osaka, Japan. Scores were 119-109 (twice) and 120-108 in favor of Ioka, who was in control every step of the way.
Kazuto Ioka is set for the first defense of his flyweight title as he faces Argentina’s Roberto Domingo Sosa in a scheduled 12-round bout Sunday in Osaka, Japan. As has been the case ever since moving up in weight, Ioka weighed in exactly at the 112 lb. divisional limit. Sosa came in at a trim 110.9 lbs.
Prior to a rematch agreement with Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina, the world flyweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA), Japan's Kazuto Ioka, will make an optional defense in September. The Championships Committee of the WBA has approved the request by Ioka (17-1, 10 KOs), to face Argentine boxer Roberto "Incho" Sosa (26-2-1, 14 KOs). At the same time, the WBA stressed that the winner will go directly into a fight against Reveco (35-2 , 19 KOs).
After evaluating the request made by the former champion Juan Carlos Reveco and his team, the WBA championships committee ordered the rematch of the fight with Japanese Kazuto Ioka, who fought on April 22 in Japan. The bout ended favorable to the Asian 114-114, 113-116, 113-115 on the scorecards, which meant the defeat of Reveco by majority decision and the loss of his flyweight world title. Due to the controversial decision, the immediate rematch was ordered according to point c.26 of the WBA rules.
The second time was a charm for Kazuto Ioka in his quest to win titles in three weight classes. The 26-year old turned back the best that visiting flyweight titlist Juan Carlos Reveco had to offer in gutting out a 12-round majority decision to claim the crown Wednesday evening in Osaka, Japan. Scores were 114-114 even, and 115-113 and 116-113 in favor of Ioka. BoxingScene.com had it 116-112 in favor of Ioka, watching from the living room couch.
Juan Carlos Reveco looks for his second career win in Japan, while Kazuto Ioka hopes to turn a second chance into a third divisional title when the two collide Wednesday evening at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan. Reveco (35-1, 19KOs) will travel to Japan for just the second time in his career, with the bout coming just one day shy of his 11-year anniversary in the pro ranks. The previous trek to the Far East resulted in a 12-round win over Masayuki Kuroda in his first official defense as a full flyweight titlist, having reigned as an interim titlist since 2010.
Kazuto Ioka picked up a belt in a third weight class (one full reign, two secondary reigns) following a 12-round win over Argentina’s Juan Carlos Reveco in their flyweight title fight Wednesday evening in Osaka, Japan. Judges Carlos Sucre (Venezuela) and Silvestre Aibainza (Philippines) both had Ioka winning by scores of 116-113 and 115-113, respectively. Judge Raul Caiz Sr. (Unites States) scored the contest 114-114 even.
Juan Carlos Reveco and Kazuto Ioka did their part for their flyweight title fight to move forward for Wednesday evening at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan. Both fighters came in right at the 112 lb. divisional limit.
Just a few months ago, one of Argentina’s finest went on the road to Japan to face an ingénue professional. Omar Narvaez didn’t make it past Naoya Inoue with his title. Kazuto Ioka knows what it’s like to be in Inoue’s shoes. He was the ingénue not long ago. A unified titlist in ten fights; belts in two fights by eleven. A loss to Amnat Ruenroeng in May 2014 cut off his chances to win a title in his third weight class in his fifteenth start. Wednesday, Argentina’s Juan Carlos Reveco will try to stop him again. Reveco’s WBA title isn’t the ‘real’ WBA title. That belongs to unified titlist Juan Francisco Estrada. The victor will celebrate with that meaning little to them. If this fight is as good as it looks on paper, everyone who sees it will have cause to celebrate too. This has the makings of an early fight of the year candidate in boxing’s deep, thrilling Flyweight division.
Former two-division champ Kazuto Ioka and his team held a press conference Monday afternoon to formally announce his upcoming April 22 title challenge versus long-time titlsit Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina. The bout will take place at Bodymaker Colosseum in Osaka, Japan. BoxingScene.com previously reported confirmation of the fight, which will mark Ioka's bid at a title in a currently elusive third weight class.