Kazuto Ioka from Japan, who has held world titles in four divisions, won the WBA junior bantamweight title when he scored a unanimous 12-round points decision over former champion Joshua Franco on Saturday in Tokyo, Japan.
Franco had been stripped of the title as he came in overweight and, despite the difference in weight, Ioka could claim the belt.
Ioka was in control through most of the fight and won with scores of 116-112 twice and 115-113.
Ioka improved his record to 30-2-1; 15 and Franco’s record dropped to 18-2-3-1nc; 8.
ADAMES WINS IN NINE
WBC interim middleweight champion Carlos Adames (23-1; 18) stopped the former unified champion Julian “J-Rock” Williams (28-4-1 16) in the ninth round on Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis.
Adames was in control through most of the rounds before the stoppage. The time was 2:45.
ON THE SAME CARD
Junior middleweight Erickson “Hammer” Lubin (25-2; 18), who is rated at No. 6 by the WBC, won on a fifth-round knockout over Luis “Cuba” Arias (20-4-1; 9). The time was 2:11.
In a light heavyweight bout, Burley Brooks (7-2-1; 5) won on a 10-round unanimous points decision against the 39-year-old former IBF super middleweight champion Caleb “Golden” Truax (31-6-2; 19). The scores were 98-91, 96-93, 96-93.
Former IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas (34-3-2; 23), now fighting at junior featherweight, scored a fifth-round knockout over Wilner Soto (22-13; 12).
The junior welterweight bout between Mickel Spencer (3-0; 2) and Lyle McFarlane (2-1; 1 KO) ended in a no-decision after a clash of heads in the third round.
VARGAS JR WINS IN THREE
Junior middleweight Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas Jr. (11-0; 11) won on a third-round stoppage against Andre “Thunder” Byrd (10-14-2; 1) on Saturday night at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.
Byrd did not answer the bell for the third round.
In a junior lightweight bout, Leonardo Alcala (22-5; 15) won on an eight-round unanimous points decision against Andy “El Tiburon” Vences (23-5-2; 12).
Vences was deducted a point in the fifth round for hitting behind the head.
Alcala was given five minutes to recover as he won with scores of 78-73 twice and 76-75.
Welterweight Evan “Yung Holy” Holyfield (11-1; 7) won on a close six-round points decision over Juan Meza Moreno (4-3; 3).
The scores were 57-56 on all three judges’ scorecards.
BELANGA WINS AGAINST QUIGLY
Super middleweight Edgar “The Chosen One” Berlanga (21-0; 16) won on a 12-round unanimous points decision over Jason “El Animal” Quigley (20-3; 14) on Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Berlanga, who is listed at No 4 by both the WBO and IBF, came out fast in the first two rounds and scored knockdowns in rounds three and five and twice in the 12th. The scores were 116-108 twice and 118-106.
In a heavyweight bout, Joe Cusumano (22-4; 20) won an eighth-round technical knockout over Adam “Babyface” Kownacki (20-4; 15).
Kownacki’s corner threw in the towel two minutes into the eighth round.
SPOMER RETAINS WBO GLOBAL TITLE
The WBO No 10-rated junior middleweight Slawa Spomer (18-0; 9) retained his WBO global junior middleweight title with an eighth-round knockout against Felice Moncelli (24-8-1; 6) at the Eisstadion in Heilbronn, Germany. The time was 38 seconds.