World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym held a press conference on Nov. 27 in Tokyo that he will defend his title against eighth-ranked Josber Perez of Venezuela on Dec. 31 at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium.

  It will be the 34-year-old Ioka’s first defense of the title he won in this past June by decisioning Joshua Franco of the United States, who was stripped of the title by failing to meet the super flyweight limit in his official weigh-in in their direct rematch.

  It will be Ioka’s sixth straight New Year’s Eve fight and his 12th overall. It will also be Ioka’s 25^th world title fight, the most in the Japanese history.

  Ioka relinquished his World Boxing Organization super flyweight title to have a direct rematch with Franco as they fought to a majority draw on last Dec. 31 in the title unification fight.

  Though Ioka wanted to have a title unification fight with World Boxing Council super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, they failed to come to an agreement on various aspects, which is why Perez was picked as Ioka’s opponent in his title defense.

  Ioka told reporters, ‘’I think I am expected to show an overwhelming performance as a champion.’’

  For his part. Perez, who told the press conference remotely, ‘’Since I received the offer for the fight about 15 days ago and decided to visit Japan immediately. I have been training all the time so that I can be alright in any circumstances.’’  

Ioka has a record of 30 wins, including 15 knockouts, against two losses and a draw, while the 28-year-old Perez has a 20-3 win-loss tally with 18 KOs.