Kazuto Ioka from Japan makes the fourth defence of his WBO junior bantamweight belt when he meets fellow countryman Ryoji Kukunaga on Friday night at the Outa City Gymnasium in Tokyo.
The 32-year-old Ioka (27-2; 15) is coming off a successful defence of his belt in his most recent fight against Francisco Rodriguez Jr, winning on a unanimous 12-round points decision in October this year.
The only losses on his record were against Donnie Nietes in a clash for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight belt in 2018, and Amnat Ruenroeng for the IBF flyweight belt. Both losses were on split decisions.
After making his pro debut in September 2009 he went on to win the vacant Japanese light flyweight title and captured the WBC minimumweight belt with a fifth-round stoppage against Kittipong Jaigrajang and made three successful defences before winning the WBA light flyweight belt and making nine successful defences.
Ioka won the vacant WBO junior bantamweight belt when he stopped Filipino Aston Palicte in the tenth round in June 2019.
He made successful defences of the belt against Jeyvier Cintron (pts 12) and Kosei Tanaka (tko 8) on last New Year’s Eve before beating Rodriguez earlier this year.
The 35-year-old Kukunaga, who is listed at No 6 by the WBO, fights from the southpaw stance and has compiled a record of 15-4; 14 since making his pro debut in August 2013.
He lost his pro debut on points and in his sixth fight was stopped in the first round.
His other two losses came against Yuta Matsuo (pts 8) in April, and on a 10-round unanimous points decision against Jakkrawut Majoogoen
Kukunaga won the WBO Asia Pacific junior bantamweight title in February 2020 with a stoppage win against Froilin Saludar.
He defended the WBO belt and added the vacant OPBF and the Japanese junior bantamweight titles to his collection when he stopped Kenta Nakagawa in the tenth round.
In his most recent fight in October this year he beat Hayate Kaji on a ten-round majority points decision.
One of the online betting sites has Ryoji Fukunaga at +500 and Kazuto Ioka at -700.
The other main organisation champions are WBA, Juan Francisco Estrada, and IBF/WBC, Jerwin Ancajas.