IN NEGOTIATIONS for New Year's Eve in Japan! (again: nothing official, but the parties are discussing it and the prospective date and venue are set already if everything stays on rails) This would be a WBO (fourth defense of Ioka) and IBF (tenth defense of Ancajas) super flyweight championship unification. Both men have been linked to rumored fights with Wisaksil Wangek (WBC #1, currently beltless) but nothing has materialized, although the Filipino's camp did reach out to the Thai's and make an attempt.
If this doesn't come off, per Ryo Kataoka, each will try and make something happen with their highest ranked contender as early as possible in 2022. That means Mohammed "Maraviglia" Obbadi for Ancajas, and Wangek (Srisaket Sor Rungvisai) for Ioka.
Funny, I was talking about Ioka needing to make this fight earlier today with a friend. Gotta love those new years eve events, they almost always make something epic for it.
I’m married, old, with a kid. Partying, fireworks, women, don’t mean **** anymore.. I hope this pull through.. it will be a treat. Live boxing with a bottle of scotch
Yeah but I'd still favor the Ioka that fought Chihuas over Ancajas (less widely than it would have previously have been, though)...but if there is any continued decline, or he takes him lightly and/or looks ahead to SSR next year, who knows...
This division is deep like no division has been in a long time. Wangek has a better resume than a lot of current unified champs. Boxrec has Cuadras as the 10th best fighter in the division. Their top 10 is a little wonky, I might put him a few spots higher, but on the whole the division is that solid.
Can’t wait! I voted Ioka on points but seeing his last fight, I really hope he’s not on the decline. New Year’s Eve fights are the best in Japan!
I know some people might slightly prefer Ioka vs. Wangek, but consider: That means we have to sit through a time-waster defense vs. Obbadi (who??) by Ancajas Unification, baby We get another big super fly battle this year, no delayed gratification until next. As an Ioka fan, if the Chihuas fight wasn't a one-off and he really is falling off, I don't want him in with someone as dangerous as the Thai Tank (hitting him as much as Rodríguez did, jfc, imagine? ), especially with him not bringing any hardware. Ancajas is literally higher reward and lower risk, but still ought to be a good fight.
