Kazuto Ioka vs. Josber Alexander Pérez

Confirmed, sadly. New Year's Eve, in the usual venue (since 2019), Ota-City Gymnasium in Tokyo. WBA super flyweight title at stake, Ioka's first defense.

Ioka has done a NYE show every single year from 2011 onward, except for 2017. He is 9-1-1 (6), losing to Donnie Nietes in Macao - the only time he fought on the date outside Japan. The draw came against Joshua Franco at the last event, and was avenged six months later in what remains Ioka's only previous outing this year.

The challenger holds the Venezuelan national super fly title and is ranked #8 in the world by the WBA. This is after losing a bid for their flyweight belt versus Artem Dalakian in February of 2020 (so, before the global Covid pandemic) since which time he fought thrice, in a 4-, 8-, and 10-rounder. His opponents in those bouts have a combined record of 14-15.

I was hoping it would at least be WBA #6 ranked Kevin Jake Dionson Cataraja, if we couldn't have Ioka vs. Estrada just yet.

 

tbf he originally wanted El Gallo for the NYE opponent. JFE felt lowballed, even though it's ...Ioka, in Japan, on 12/31. You kind of have to expect whatever offer is going to favor him. Oh well, maybe we get that one in '24.

 

Just realized what you get if you swap out letter #3 in Pérez's first name and make that a double consonant.

 

KJ didn't have a prayer either but he deserves the global spotlight more than Pérez does.

 

You rage-voted Pérez by stoppage?

 

Kazuto Ioka huge favorite at -2400
Jobber, sorry Josber Pérez +1160

The last time bookmakers had odds as long as -2000 for Ioka was 2016, vs. Yutthana Kaensa

 

Yoshimitsu Kimura vs. Kosuke Saka II and Daigo Higo vs. Navapon Khaikanha on the undercard, those'll be fun at least.

 

Less than four days out.

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Ring walks for the main event approximated to start at 6:30am EST on Sunday morning.

Abema coverage from 3am EST.

 

Live weigh-ins here, ~8 hours:

https://www.youtube.com/live/7HBlMDP75e0?si=Oto5FbtTUUAKpEwo