Friday, 31 July 2026 · Philippines
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Kazuto Ioka, Ryoji Fukunaga Make Weight for New Year's Eve WBO Super Fly Rumble in Japan

In an All-Japanese battle, WBO Super Flyweight World Champion Kazuto Ioka weighed-in at 114.86 lbs while challenger Ryoji Fukunaga made 114.64 pounds ahead of their title clash tomorrow, Friday Dec 31, at the Ota-City General Gym in Tokyo, Japan.

If the more-experienced, far-more-accomplished Ioka comes out victorious, it is highly possible that he might want to battle Filipino "Pretty Boy" Jerwin Ancajas for an exciting WBO/IBF 115-pound unification war in May.

In fact, Kazuto and Jerwin were supposed to fight tomorrow, but their hot war had to be postponed due to new entry restrictions in the Land of the Rising Sun we all know why.

Kazuto Ioka (27-2, 15 KO's) has reigned in 4 different weight-classes, the only Japanese fighter in history to accomplish such a feat; while the hard-hitting 35-year challenger Fukunaga (15-4, 14 KO’s) has been super flyweight regional champ.

Will it be Ioka or Fukunaga? Who will come out as winner for a New Year's world title celebration tomorrow?

Kazuto Ioka vs Ryoji Fukunaga is promoted by Takuya Kuya of Shisei Promotions, aired live in Japan on TBS from the 18:30 hours Tokyo Time (UTC/GMT +9)

The author Carlos Costa can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com

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