World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym will defend his title for the fifth time against top-ranked Donnie Nietes of the Philippines on July 13 at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium, Ioka said at a press conference in Tokyo on June 2.

While Ioka initially planned to fight with then International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines on New Year’s Eve last year, it was cancelled due to the Japanese government’s restrictions on entry into Japan by foreign residents in response to the spread of the Omicron variant. Ioka then picked Ryoji Fukunaga of Kadoebi Boxing Gym and decisioned him.

While the 33-year-old Ioka, the only Japanese who has won world titles in four different weight divisions, was still looking to face Ancajas in a title unification fight, Ancajas lost the title to Fernando Martinez of Argentine in February this year. The WBO has ordered Ioka to take on No. 1-ranked Nietes instead.

It is under these circumstances that Ioka has decided to face the 40-year-old Filipino, who beat Ioka on New Year’s Eve of 2018 in Macao with a split decision and won the vacant WBO super flyweight crown.
Ioka said, ‘’I was surprised to hear Ancajas’ loss. The title unification fight is difficult to achieve.’’ He quickly added, ‘’True I lost to Nietes in Macao. But I have come a long way since then as that experience eventually led me to capture the current title after some twists and turns. I want to put an ended to my loss to Nietes to overcome the old me.’’

Ioka continued, ‘’While my jabs will play an important role in the coming fight as well to find my fighting distance, I did things halfway in my offense in our last fight. This time, I want to have a fight in which everybody thinks I have won.’’

Asked about Nietes’ ‘’old’’ age of 40, and had a long absence after his fight with Ioka, Ioka said, ‘’I am not counting on his getting older considering his style of boxing, which is to take advantage of his opponent’s power.’’

Nietes, who became the nation’s third boxer to win world titles at least in four different weight divisions after Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire by beating Ioka, relinquished his title without even making a title defense. But he returned to the ring in April 2021 with a decision victory. His most recent bout came in last December with a 10-round draw with Norbelto Jimenez of the Dominican Republic.

Ioka has a record of 28 wins, including 15 KOs, against two losses. For his part, Nietes has a 43-1-6 win-loss-draw record with 23 KOs.