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Home » Kazuto Ioka becomes Japan’s first ever four-weight world champion

Kazuto Ioka becomes Japan’s first ever four-weight world champion

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The first world championship boxing match ever streamed live on UFC Fight Pass® took place on Wednesday between the World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) top two-ranked junior bantamweight contenders, ‘Mighty’ Aston Palicte and Kazuto Ioka.

Palicte and Ioka battled it out for the vacant WBO World title.

Promoter and former pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions, owns the worldwide live streaming rights outside of Japan. Palicte vs. Ioka, co-promoted by RJJ Boxing and Reason Taki Promotions, was streamed live from Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Chiba, Japan.

Ioka came out on top via a tenth-round stoppage to become Japan’s first ever four-weight title holder.

For no. 1-ranked contender Palicte (25-3-1, 21 KOs), fighting out of the Philippines, it was no shame to lose out against a now five-time four-division ruler in Ioka (24-2, 13 KOs)

The previously No. 2-rated Ioka, 30, had a decisive experience advantage over the younger, stronger Palicte. He brought a 13-2 (3 KOs) record in world title fights into the contest.

The only members of Japan’s elite Nippon club are Hozumi Hasegawa, Koki Kameda, Akira Yaegashi and Naoko Fujioka, the lone female in the group. Ioka has now overhauled them all.


KYOGUCHI

Also on the bill, light flyweight Hiroto Kyoguchi successfully defended his WBA light-flyweight belt for the first time.

Kyoguchi defeated Tanawat Nakoon on points. Nakoon was undefeated in eleven bouts until meeting Kyoguchi.

Scores read 117-111 twice and 117-112 after twelve rounds.

At super flyweight, Miyo Yoshida won the vacant World Boxing Organisation World Female Super Flyweight Title against Casey Morton.

Yoshida won every round to add the WBO belt to the Japanese belt she would last time out.