Philippines, 23 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Kazuto Ioka Decisions Fukunaga in Tokyo on New Year's Eve; Ancajas Rumble Could Be Next for the Japanese Star


PhilBoxing.com




In an tough all-Japanese battle, 4-division world champion Kazuto Ioka (28-2, 15 KO's) scored a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Ryoji Fukunaga (15-5, 14 KO's) to successfully retain for the 4th time his WBO Super Flyweight world title on New Year's Eve at the Ota-City General Gym in Tokyo, Japan.

The popular Ioka, 32, made good use of his superior boxing skills and slick moves to land his blows to the body and head of the complicated, hard-hitting southpaw challenger Fukunaga, who never stopped looking for a breakthrough in the war, which never came.

Nevertheless, the relentless Fukunaga had shining moments during the rumble, even clearly winning some rounds especially in the early and final stages of the combat; however the better boxer, Ioka, capitalized and dominated during the mid chapters in which his more elegant and orthodox boxing approach prevailed.

Still, the clash was intense and competitive enough for one of the judges to score it 115-113 in favor of Ioka. Another tally was the acceptable 116-112 for Ioka. However, the disproportional, rather exaggerated scoring of 118-110 seemed too far fetched, not in compliance with what indeed unfolded on top of the square ring in Tokyo.


Ioka catches Fukunaga with a right uppercut.

In summary, Fukunaga did far better that many fans thought he would, creating some problems for the master-class Kazuto Ioka, the only Japanese boxer in history to claim world titles in four different weight classes.

Fukunaga, 35, was a replacement for Ioka's original, more-stellar opponent, Filipino IBF Super Flyweight world champion Jerwin "Pretty Boy" Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KO's).

Unfortunately for fans and promoters, Jerwin Ancajas was unable to fly into Japan due to new travel restrictions put in place in the Land of the Rising Sun because of we know what.

Still, the exciting Kazuto Ioka vs Jerwin Ancajas IBF/WBO unification rumble could unfold "possible in May", according to Ancajas' coach/manager Joven Jimenez.

But for that dream match to proceed, the Davaeño "Pretty Boy" Ancajas needs to successfully defend his red 'n golden strap against unbeaten Argentinian challenger Fernando Daniel Martínez (13-0, 8 KO’s) on February 5 in the U.S.

Tonight’s winner, Kazuto Ioka, is, together with Ryota Murata and Naoya Inoue, the 3 golden boys of Japanese boxing, providing so much excitement to Japanese boxing-loving fans.

Ioka vs Fukunaga tonight in Tokyo was a promotion of Takuya Kiya's Shisei Promotions, televised live in Japan on Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS).


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


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Oklahoma Completes Dream Season; Whips Indiana in Game 7, 103-91 for First NBA Title in Thunder Era
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Japanese Boxer Jin Sasaki Suffers Memory Loss Following Brutal Knockout in WBO Title Fight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Becomes WBF Asia Champion at Age 50
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Ador Torres, Renato Cha, Lemuel De Barbo and Ivan Ognayon Score KO Wins in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Concludes with Junior, Youth and Elite Championships
    , Mon, 23 Jun 2025
  • Second Stage of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix Concludes with Great Success: Heavyweight and Featherweight
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Miel Ticket: Vito Mielnicki Jr. Shuts Out Kamil Gardzielik
    , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • WBC Grand Prix super lightweight results from Riyadh
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Francisco Rodriguez Jr. Stuns Galal Yafai in Birmingham, Secures Interim WBC Flyweight Title
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Jesse 'The Little Giant' Espinas Crowned WBC Asia Super Flyweight Champion in Exciting Knockout Victory in China
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Five of USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
    , Sun, 22 Jun 2025
  • Filipinos De Barbo, Ognayon, Cha and Torres in Action in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’: DAVID STEVENS DEFEATS PETR KHAMUKOV BY 10-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Era and Nantapech Ready to Clash for WBF Asia in Thailand; Filipinos in the Undercard
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Team USA Youth High Performance Steamrolls into Junior Olympics and Summer Festival Semis
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Kamil Gardzielik
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • ‘LA FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS 2’ 6 P.M PST/9 P.M. EST TONIGHT, LIVE ON DAZN, FEATURING STEVENS VS. KHAMUKOV
    , Sat, 21 Jun 2025
  • YAFAI VS. RODRIGUEZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Thursday’s Action Featured Stellar Showings at the 2025 USA Boxing Junior Olympics and Summer Festival
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Finals Go All the Way to Game 7 as Indiana Bludgeons Oklahoma in Game 6, 108-91
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Araneta Loses on Points in Odd Judging Setup; Still no Japanese World Welterweight Champion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Espinas, Cao Make Weight, Ready for WBC Asia Battle Saturday in China
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • ASAPHIL Taps World-Class Coach to Lead RP Blu Girls to Greater Heights
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • YAFAI VS. RODRIGUEZ + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Vito Mielnicki Jr. Set for Homecoming Versus Kamil Gardzielik
    , Fri, 20 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.