BN Preview: Kazuto Ioka Again Promises New Year’s Eve Fireworks, This Time Against Joshua Franco

Rarely does a sport like boxing reward patience or save the best for last. To be fair, however, any decision regarding this year’s “Match of the Year” could have to wait until super fly. Joshua Franco and Kazuto Ioka finished their business on New Year’s Eve.

Those two, arguably two of the coolest boxers on the planet, collided on December 31 at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, and carnage seemed the only option. . Regardless of who wins the fight in the end, the easiest thing to predict right now, before it happens, is that the action produced will not be missed and the fight, even though it goes too far. late in the year, but still going for most of the year- ends the list when it comes to “Battle of the Year” 2022.

This belief stems from a few things. Firstly, with both fighters holding belts (Franco has a WBA belt; Ioka has a WBO belt), there is a lot of danger at stake and moreover, both have been waiting for a match of this magnitude since. long. Second, given the style and history of their entertainment tidbits, it’s hard to picture Franco and Ioka meeting in the ring and delivering anything other than a moving, furious exchange. and dramatic. In other words: fireworks.

Especially for Ioka, this war has been going on for a long time. A belt holder since 2019, that was the year he stopped Aston Palicte in 10 rounds to claim the current title, Ioka, 29-2 (15), has made 5 successful saves so far , all of which take place at the same time where he will fight Franco. He beat the undefeated Jeyvier Cintron in his first defense, which was followed by wins over Kosei Tanaka, also undefeated, Francisco Rodriguez Jr and Ryoji Fukunaga. Meanwhile, in July, he dominated Filipino veteran Donnie Nietes for 12 rounds, exacting revenge in the process.

Joshua Franco (Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)

On the other hand, Franco, six years younger than Ioka at the age of 27, has been the title holder since 2020. That was the year he played twice against Australian Andrew Moloney; beat him for the first time before their rematch ended with a disgruntled “No Contest” score due to Franco’s eye damage in the second inning. The pair then went on to fight a third time the following year, with this time Franco putting any uncertainty to bed by comfortably winning a unanimous decision in another entertaining tidbit.

Now, having left Moloney behind, Franco, 18-1-2 (8), is set to face a new name and a belt peer. His only loss to date as a professional athlete came in 2018, when he was stopped by Lucas Fernandez for nine innings, but, like younger brother Jesse Rodriguez, the Texan is a boxer matures and only improves with age.

Ioka too, seems to be in his thirties now. No stranger to his own setbacks, the Tokyo-born fighter lost his first belt in the super flyweight division, losing to Donnie Nietes in 2018 and four years earlier losing his IBF title match to Amnat Ruenroeng. , again by parting. decision. Thus, he is both used to disappointment and used to coming back stronger after this disappointment to improve both his skills and his luck. He did it as flyweight, a weight class where he won and defended the WBA belt five times, and more recently, super flyweight.

Now a world champion in four weight classes (including minimum and light), Ioka is certainly the experienced one on his side in this December 31 clash with Franco. Plus, he’ll have the added advantage of fighting in front of a home audience – despite the crowds being notoriously quiet and respectful – at a spot that has recently become a fun hunting ground for him. ta.

This, based on the couple’s suitability, could be what ultimately makes all the difference on the night. The battle is sure to end, just as the action is sure to be frenzied, and in the end, any advantage – whether it’s experience or support – can prove vital to the outcome. . For that reason, I picked Ioka to win by points in a close match and was thrilling enough to make those who watch it on New Year’s Eve not only rethink the “Match of the Year” choice but also called for a rematch in 2023.

Elsewhere on the Tokyo, Japan card Hayato Tsutsumia 23-year-old featherweight athlete who won his professional debut in eight innings in July, once again stepping ahead of the Filipino Pete Apolinar, 16-3 (10), in a match also scheduled for eight o’clock. Meanwhile, in the super featherweight, there’s an all-Tokyo eight-round runner between nampaw Ryo Nakai5-1-1 (2), and undefeated Kai Watanabe8-0-1 (4), still only 20 years old.