The World Boxing Association’s sixth-ranked super flyweight Josber Perez of Venezuela expressed his confidence during his public workout in Tokyo on Dec. 28 in preparation for his challenge to champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym for the latter’s title on Dec. 31 at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium.

  Speaking before a group of reporters at the gym, the 28-year-old Perez said, ‘’Though Ioka is a good boxer, he tends to avoid fighting directly in front of his opponent. But I like hitting each other. I will use my combination blows cleverly while moving my upper body and footwork, ‘’ thereby intending to smother Ioka’s jabs.

  About a month and a half ago, Perez sat at the feet of Mexican Jose Alfredo Caballero, a trainer-cum-manager of World Boxing Council super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, with whom Ioka badly wants to fight to unify the title, and had about 90-day training camp at a high altitude in Mexico.

Perez is said to have had a joint practice not only with Estrada but with former WBC super featherweight champion Miguel Berchelt, also of Mexico.

  In this connection, Caballero said, ‘’Ioka is a good boxer based on his ample experience. But he is 34-years-old, which will prove to be his weak point. Perez is in the first flush of youth and has a hungry spirit.’’

  Perez began boxing at the age of 12 and became a Venezuelan national champion six times as he had 130 amateur fights.

  It will be Perez’s second world championship fight as he unsuccessfully challenged WBA flyweight champion Artem Dalakian of Ukraine in February 2020.

  Perez said, ‘’I have trained myself perfectly. I am confident in myself 1000 percent.’’

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