Filipino boxer Aston Palicte will face three-division world champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan today for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) world super flyweight belt at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Japan.
Palicte?s trainer and coach Rodel Mayol predicted an easy win for his ward from Bago City, Negros Occidental.
?He (Palicte) is in better condition than the last fight after making weight today. We have a big chance [of winning against Ioka]. I believe that Ioka would not survive Palicte?s punches,? Mayol told The Manila Times through overseas call.
Mayol said that Palicte registered 114.6 pounds while Ioka tipped the scale at 114.4 pounds ? both within the super flyweight limit ? during the official weigh in.
The 28-year-old Palicte (25-2-1 win-loss-draw record with 21 knockouts) won via second round technical knockout over Puerto Rican Jose Martinez last January 31 in California.
Ioka, 30, suffered a split decision loss to Palicte?s compatriot Donnie Nietes last December 31 for the WBO super flyweight belt.
Nietes, however, vacated the WBO belt last Match 31. JOSEF T. RAMOS
