Professional boxing, WBO = World Boxing Organization, super flyweight title match was held, and champion Kazuto Ioka defeated challenger Ryoji Fukunaga with a 3-0 decision and succeeded in defending for the fourth time.
The WBO super flyweight title match was held in Ota Ward, Tokyo on the night of the 31st, and champion Kazuto Ioka, who is aiming for the fourth defense, played against Ryoji Fukunaga, the challenger who ranked 6th in the world.
In the match, Ioka did not allow a decisive hit with a strong guard and skillful defense against Fukunaga who was aggressively closing the gap.
Ioka, who didn't give a chance to the end, steadily accumulated points, such as hitting an accurate body in the 8th round and hitting the upper and hook in the 10th round.
The match was not settled in the final 12 rounds, and Ioka won the 3-0 decision and succeeded in defending for the fourth time.
Ioka said on the ring, "I am hoping for the unification match that was canceled, and I will do my best to aim for further goals so that I can face the unification match next year."
Initially, Ioka was scheduled to play a unified title match with IBF = International Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas of the Philippines, but it was canceled due to the influence of the new corona variant virus "Omicron strain", Fukunaga. It was changed to a defense battle with players.
Ioka is the only Japanese male player to win the 4th class, and last year's New Year's Eve defeated the 3rd class champion Kosei Tanaka.