World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym held a press conference on Dec 23 ahead of his title unification fight with World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Joshua Franco of the United States on Dec. 31 in Tokyo that he is not in the same league with Franco.

Speaking before a group of reporters in Tokyo, the 33-year-old Ioka, who returned to Japan on Dec. 19 after hard training in Las Vegas for more than a month and a half under the guidance of his Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, said, ‘’I did everything I had to do over there (Las Vegas). The only thing I have to do is to adjust my weight. I will also take good care of my body.’’

Ioka did sparring with various boxers, including world-ranked fighters, at least three times a week, which reached some 100 rounds in total.

Touching on the 27-year-old Franco, Ioka commented, ‘’He is a courageous Mexican-style boxer and is the type of fighter who comes forward. So, I will not let him get a boost. I want to have my style of boxing by keeping distance and position so that I can fight at my own pace. I will fight at another level.

The scheduled 12-rounder will be held at Ota City General Gymnasium. Ioka, Japan’s only four-division world titlist, has a record of 29 wins, including 15 knockouts, against two losses. For his part, Franco has an 18-1-2 win-loss draw tally with one no contest. He has eight KOs.