Ioka has been set to take on Rodriguez, as the title says. This content is protected This is super interesting. Here's an article by our own Boxing Prospect with some more of the deets, including how this is Ioka's third mandatory defense in a row ordered by the WBO. https://www.asianboxing.info/asian-news/ioka-vs-rodriguez-reportedly-set-for-september-1st This is a damn dangerous fight, as Rodriguez is no joke; unified champion at minimumweight, punching power, and a 5-year, 15-fight win streak. He handed Merlito Sabillo his first loss, beat Katsunari Takayama, and three of his only 4 losses came at the hands of Chocolatito (KO), Donnie Nietes (UD, they had a previous fight that ended in a draw), and a still-good Moisés Fuentes (SD). On the one hand, these are actually worthy mandatories that he is facing, so Ioka is as always giving us bang for our buck. On the other hand, it seems that the governing bodies are determined to not have the super-flyweight division unify; when Inoue was champion, he couldn't get a fight with Kal Yafai or Jerwin Ancajas, while the WBC kept Estrada, Chocolatito, and SSR tied up in a perpetual circle-jerk. Now, while WBA/WBC have unified with Estrada, and Jerwin interested in unification, it's the WBO that seems to be holding things up now, insisting Ioka face mando after mando, and none of them soft touches. Still, I don't see this being anything other than entertaining. I have Ioka pulling out the decision because that man has been on the unofficial #11 spot in pound-for-pound lists for years, and he'll show people why, again.
