World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Ambition GYM is brimming with confidence as he held a press conference and a public training online on Dec. 24 in preparation for his Dec. 31 title defense against mandatory challenger Kosei Tanaka of Soul Box Hatanaka Boxing Gym at Tokyo’s Ota Ward Gymnasium.

The 31-year-old Ioka, who is making his second defense of the title he won in June 2019, said, ‘’For me, it is not a big match nor a showcase fight as many people think. He (Tanaka) and I are essentially different. I can show the difference of class in every aspect.’’

Ioka, who has won world titles in four different weight categories, said he did some 100 rounds of sparring sessions just like in his past world title fights. Also, the fact that he was able to spar with former World Boxing Council flyweight champion Daigo Higa, also of the Ambition gym, has been helpful (for both sides). Higa will fight as the chief supporting card of the Ioka-Tanaka fight.

Ioka said he has been practicing pilates exercise about once a week since this year, which has served him in good stead as he can now smoothly correlate his physical movement with what he imagines.

Ismael Salas of Cuba, Ioka’s chief trainer, has been giving advice to Ioka by receiving videos of his sparring sessions and will visit Japan on Dec. 29 to serve as a second for Ioka. ‘’I will show the difference of class on all fronts and will therefore take on him depending upon the course of the bout,’’ Ioka added.

Since World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico will face WBA super flyweight super champion Roman‘’Chocolatito’’ Gonzalez of Nicaragua in March, Ioka hopes to face the winner of the fight. Thus, the upcoming fight with Tanaka, who captured WBO minimumweight, light flyweight and flyweight crowns, is ‘’just a stepping stone.’’

Ioka has a record of 25 wins, including 14 knockouts, against two losses, while the 25-year-old Tanaka is undefeated in his 15 bouts, nine by KO.　Photo by Ambition Gym