kazuto ioka
Nation
Date of birth
march 24, 1989 (33 years old)
Height
5 ft 5 (165 cm)
Reach
66.5 in (169 cm)
Wins
29
Losses
2
Ko's
15
kazuto ioka
Nation
DATE OF BIRTH
march 24, 1989 (33 years old)
Height
5 ft 5 (165 cm)
REACH
66.5 in (169 cm)
wins
29
Losses
2
ko's
15
Notable Opponents
Titles Won
WBA world minimumweight + flyweight
WBA (regular) world junior flyweight + flyweight
Titles Won
WBA world minimumweight + flyweight
WBA (regular) world junior flyweight + flyweight
Background
Kazuto Ioka became an amateur national champion at least eight times. Over a course of a solid amateur career, he compiled a record of 95-10. He also strived to qualify for the 2008 Olympics, but failed to reach the main stage after losing in the Olympic qualifiers.
Ioka became a professional in 2009.
Accomplishments
The nephew of the first ever Minimumweight world champion Hiroki Ioka, Kazuto’s career has seen him match and even surpass his uncle’s career in many ways. With only two losses on his record, Ioka has been an elite competitor for well over a decade since winning his first world title in 2011 in just his seventh fight.
He notably faced a slew of top-rated competitors in various divisions, all while also conquering world titles in different weight classes. In world title fights, he holds an impressive record of 10-2 (4 KO’s) against either former, incumbent or future world champions.
Ioka unified for the first time of his career against another Japanese world champion, Akira Yaegashi, when he fought for the WBA world Minimumweight title as a WBC title holder. He has gone on to win more titles since then, and had even managed to make it in the top 10 of the pound-for-pound rankings at some point in 2021.
His next match is another unification bout held on the last day of December in 2021 against Super Flyweight world champion, Joshua Franco.
Boxing Style
One of Japan’s best products in the lower weight classes, Kazuto Ioka has established a reputation as a hard-to-hit and efficient puncher that excels in a plethora of different aspects. Since his amateur days, he has gradually been able to improve his already well-polished skillset to become an elite boxer in his own right.
Ioka has few shortcomings and is hard to beat due to his above-average offensive and defensive fundamentals. Despite having more than thirty professional fights – with at least a third amongst revolving around world title fights, Ioka has never been knocked down during a bout, and both his losses came by way of decision. Not only is that a testament to his toughness, it also signifies how defensively-sound Ioka can be.
He has above-average power as indicated by at least half his fights ending in KO or TKO victories. He is also one of the best in the lower divisions when it comes to his footwork and his jab, and on many occasions he has established control over a fight with just those two elements.