World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym said on Dec. 20 he wants to realize the title unification fight with International Boxing Federation’s champion Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines at all costs.

Speaking at a press conference held online, the 32-year-old Ioka, who had to cancel his planned fight in Tokyo with Ancajas on New Year’s Eve due to the Japanese government’s recent restrictions on entry into Japan by foreign residents in response to the spread of the Omicron variant overseas. said, ‘’I want to make the fight with Ancajas come true after clearing the task at hand.’’

Ioka, who has so far successfully defended the WBO title three times since winning it in June 2019. will defend the crown against sixth-ranked Ryoji Fukunaga of Kadoebi Boxing Gym instead on New Year’s Eve.

‘’I had a lot of difficulties in accepting the fact that the fight (with Ancajas) disappeared. I felt a void in my heart,’’ Ioka said. According to him, even after the cancellation of the title unification fight, Ioka has continued training and has continued abstemious life, adding, ‘’Somehow, I could not feel completely relaxed.’’

It was under these circumstances that Ioka received information on the title defense against left-handed Fukunaga, known as ‘’Little (Manny) Pacquiao’’ because of his similar fighting style, without any argument.

Ioka said, ‘’I had never paid attention to him up before. But I should pull my socks up considering the current circumstances. I think he has nothing to lose and thus gains steam. The chance came to him. So, he is a serious opponent.’’

According to the Shisei gym, both the Ioka and Ancajas sides have already reached an agreement that they will carry out the unification fight after each champion puts in one fight、respectively.

Ioka is fighting his 18th world championship bout, the most in Japan, has a record of 27 wins, including 15 KOs, against two losses, while the 35-year-old Fukunaga, who holds the WBO’s Asia-Pacific and

Japanese titles simultaneously, is making his first crack at a world title and has a 15-4 win-loss tally with 14 KOs.  Photo by Shisei Boxing Gym