World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Ambition GYM was ranked 10th in the latest pound-for-pound rankings by the Ring magazine, the most influential boxing magazine in the United States.

The 31-years-old Ioka, the only Japanese who has won world titles in four different weight categories, has cracked the prestigious rankings for the first time in his career for his impressive victory over the previously undefeated Kosei Tanaka on Dec. 31 to retain his title for the second time.

Naoya ‘’Monster’’ Inoue, who is ranked second in the PFP ranking, is the only other Japanese.
The magazine highly evaluated Ioka’s strategy against Tanaka, who was seeking his fourth title in as many different weight divisions, as Ioka showed ‘’the difference of class’’ in the fight.

Tom Gray, the magazine’s editor, commented although he personally likes the fighting style of International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin of Kazakhstan, he pales beside Ioka now, and replaced GGG, previously ranked 10th, with Ioka.