Ioka Comeback Options
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Jul 2024
Kazuto Ioka.
It was a heartbreaker of a loss for Kazuto Ioka, going down in defeat right before thousands of his countrymen at the Kokugigan Arena in Tokyo and by unanimous decision to Argentine strongman Fernando Daniel Martinez Sunday night.
Ioka thus ceded his WBA belt to IBF champion Martinez who becomes unified world super flyweight titlist, the first from Argentina if memory serves.
More than the belt, Ioka's reputation as Japan's second best fighter after Naoya Inoue likewise took a hit. There was a time when Ioka was considered as part of the ten best pound for pound fighters in the planet in the company of Inoue.
Latest ranking has seen Junto Nakatani taking over his spot and his recent loss to Martinez did not help in him recovering his once revered place among the world's best fighters.
But knowing Ioka, he will try to come back as soon as possible though his options are quite limited.
There are two possible options Kazuto can come back and become world champion again.
First and the easiest is to challenge the winner of the Kosei Tanaka versus Jonathan Rodriguez fight this July 20 in Japan for Tanaka's WBO super flyweight title which Ioka once held.
A rematch with Martinez would be difficult at this point given the unanimous decision verdict against him. And most surely, the demand would be an immediate clash between Martinez and new WBC champion Bam Rodriguez for the three major belts.
Another option would be for Ioka to move up to the bantamweights and attempt to become Japan's first five division world champion by challenging any of the three other Japanese world champions there that is available, namely Takuma Inoue (WBA), Yoshiki Takei (WBO) or Ryosuke Niida (IBF).
Nakatani is already set to defend his WBC crown also this July 20 against Filipino mandatory challenger Vincent Astrolabio.
We will soon know what direction Ioka will take in the coming days.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Dare To Enter: Undefeated WBC Interim Champion Vergil Ortiz to Defend Super Welterweight Title From Number 1 Contender Erickson “The Hammer” Lubin
Fri, 22 Aug 2025Euri Cedeno Takes on Willie Jones on Friday, September 5th at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, PA
Fri, 22 Aug 2025COE AND HART CLASH ON BOOTS ENNIS CARD IN PHILADELPHIA
Thu, 21 Aug 2025‘There's nothing that he brings to the table that I've not got an answer for’ Sam Rennie on upcoming fight at Thunderdome 51
Thu, 21 Aug 2025JAMAINE "THE TECHNICIAN" ORTIZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
Thu, 21 Aug 2025Gervonta Davis vs. Jake Paul: Exhibition Bout Announced for November
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 21 Aug 2025Legendary boxing coach John Brown Compares cornering Tommy Morrison & Rising young star Marco Romero
Thu, 21 Aug 2025World Kid to Host Meet-and-Greet and Open Workouts In advance of “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
Thu, 21 Aug 2025Assassin’s Creed: Brian Norman Jr. Signs Multi-Year Contract Extension with Top Rank
Thu, 21 Aug 2025Five Philippine FIDE Masters are scheduled to arrive in Roxas City
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 21 Aug 2025Boxing Promotional Powerhouse Top Rank Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday, September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 21 Aug 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 12: MUHAMMAD ALI LOSSES THEN WINS AGAINST KEN NORTON
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 20 Aug 2025Pasig and Quezon City top 1st PCAP Rated Open championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 20 Aug 2025Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Full Fight Card Revealed
Wed, 20 Aug 2025Sadam Ali's career highlight: Defeating Terence Crawford to become 2008 U.S. Olympian
Wed, 20 Aug 2025