NYE in Tokyo. WBO super flyweight title at stake, 1st defense of Ioka. Ioka captured the belt in his second try - in the process becoming, historically, the first Japanese four weight division world champion, having started his career at straw - by knocking out "Mighty" Aston Palicte in a hard-fought thriller in June. This came on the heels of both men unsuccessfully challenging Palicte's countryman Donnie Liboon "Ahas" Nietes in 2018, with the older Filipino retaining both times in controversial fashion (taking a split draw with Palicte and split decision victory over Ioka). "Perrito" Cintrón is his mandatory, rated #1 by the WBO. He was already in the organization's pipeline, having captured its Youth bantamweight title last year and then its Latino super flyweight title with two defenses - but his first world class assignment was against Ioka's countryman Kōki Etō, in which he was KTFO in a round (albeit from a headbutt/punch combo, which resulted in the result being changed to a NC). He then beat Etō by wide UD in a rematch in August on Telemundo. All well and good to have settled the score with Etō, but there's a big leap from defeating Japan's fifth- or sixth-best at 115lbs, and defeating its best. The gap is even wider than it may sound, as in p4p terms Etō is maybe top 50 domestically, while Ioka easily makes its top 5. That said, Ioka has already retired once and is an old and hard-ridden 30 - which is already getting up there in this range. Cintrón has the fresher legs at 24, and will need to bank on that fact and Ioka's relative dearth of experience versus southpaws (having faced only five in his career, and none is over six years) to keep himself afloat. Etō vs. Cintrón I: This content is protected Etō vs. Cintrón II highlights: This content is protected Ioka vs. Nietes: This content is protected Ioka vs. Palicte: This content is protected
One of my current favourites. I can't call him a 4 weight champion personally, though, as he had 2 'regular' belts. Regardless, tremendously skilled. Looking forward to him boxing.
Im not sure about his 108 belt but his 112 belt got recognized when estrada moved up so he is a 3 div champ at the very least
For those who can't find a way to watch on Japanese television, an outside chance does still exist that PR Best Boxing will stream it on their Facebook page. It'd be just the main event, if anything (since they have no vested interest outside Jeyvier Cintrón's bout) - meaning if you can't tune into TBS you're not going to see Tanaka vs. Tuolehazi, Yoshida vs. Shi, Kuga vs. Ramonal, or Shigeoka vs. Loreto - the latter two perhaps not watchable anywhere outside the venue itself.
