World Boxing Organization super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka of Shisei Boxing Gym and World Boxing Association kingpin Joshua Franco of the United States in the same weight division fought to a majority draw in their title unification fight on Dec. 31 in Tokyo.

After the hard-fought 12-rounder at Ota City General Gymnasium, one of the three judges scored the fight 115-113 for Franco, while the remaining two had it 114-114, respectively.

With the draw, the 33-year-old Ioka retained his title for six times, and Franco for second times.
While there were no knockdowns, both fighters exchanged blows throughout the fight with the 27-year-old Franco moving forward incessantly by throwing punches. Ioka occasionally landed his favorite left hooks to the body and straight rights to the head.

Neither fighter, however, was able to connect with decisive blows with World Boxing Council super flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico keeping watchful eyes on them from the ringside seat.

After the fight, Ioka said from the ring, ‘’I am sorry that I was not able to live up to your expectations. Though I was not able to win the fight, I managed to retain the title with a draw, which will lead to my next step. I will keep trying in the year 2023 by making the most of today’s frustration. Mr. Franco was strong.’’

With the result, Ioka, Japan’s only four-division world titlist, has a record of 29 wins, including 15 knockouts, against two losses and a draw. For his part, Franco has an 18-1-3 win-loss-draw tally with one no contest. He has eight KOs.

Meanwhile, former WBO flyweight champion Junto Nakatani of M.T Boxing Gym, who has the right to challenge Ioka within 180 days, said after watching the fight at the gymnasium, ‘’It was a heated battle between the two champions. Mr. Ioka is a stable champion. But since he moved backward a lot, I think I was able to call up an image of keeping time with his punches.’’

The 24-years-old southpaw, undefeated in his 24 bouts with 18 KOs, added, ‘’Though I don’t know what kind of the flow it would take, I am determined to win it if the fight (with Ioka) is realized. I want to make the next year a decisive year.’’