Kazuto Ioka vs. José Francisco Rodríguez Tamayo

September first in Tokyo. WBO super flyweight title at stake, Ioka's third defense. Rodríguez is the number two ranked contender by the WBO at 115lbs.

The champion last fought on New Year's Eve (a tradition kept going every year for the past decade save 2017, when he was briefly retired) versus Kōsei Tanaka, stopping his countryman in eight rounds. The challenger has competed more recently, with Rodríguez taking a SD over Mexican journeyman Martin Tecuapetla in February - but this will be just his second time in action since November of 2019.

 

I'm glad Ioka will be squeezing in a date before (hopefully) doing the NYE show again...to push it any later than early September could have made for too close a turnaround.

 

This is still on AFAIK, listed on many online boxing calendars, but there haven't been many updates on it for a while - not even in Japanese media.

 

Yeah, unless he became shot overnight he's a good level or two above Chihuas at his best.

 

Definitely shouldn't, in face he could even do better than win comfortably, and dominate. All depends on which Chihuas shows up (he's very inconsistent, and while the hot version is world class - but still below Ioka - the "cold" version got a gift over Pinoy journeyman even 7 years ago smack dab in his prime)

 

from asianboxing.info:

Ioka Vs Rodriguez to be held in empty arena!
8/19/2021

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Earlier today it was confirmed that the scheduled WBO Super Flyweight title bout between Kazuto Ioka (26-2, 15) [井岡一翔] and mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr (33-4-1, 24) would be held in an empty arena.

The reason for the decision is that covid cases in Japan are still worryingly high, leading to much of the country being under a state of emergency. Something the country appears to be battling to get out of, though not having things helped by outside forces, such as the IOC.

Those who have purchased tickets for the event will be able to get a full refund with all tickets being cancelled.

Thankfully for in Japan the bout will viewable for free, with the contest being aired on TBS, though of course watching at home on TV does take away a lot of the enjoyment of a live fight feel and the atmosphere of a big event.

Interestingly this could play into the hands of Rodriguez, who won't be met by thousands of Japanese fans backing Ioka, though it will give a very eerie feeling to the bout, with the venue being quite a big one, and with no fans in it it will seem very strange.

 

TV details:

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Live on TBS (in Japan, not the sister channel kf TNT in the United States ) from 9pm Tokyo/8am EST on Sept. 1st.

 

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Main event ring walks due for about 7am CDMX, which is 8am EST - airing on TBS in Japan and ESPN Knockout in Mexico.

The undercard is available to stream on a separate internet PPV courtesy of BitFan and the Shisei Gym, for a price of JP¥500 ($4.55 in USD) from 6am-8am EST. The stream will conclude before (and therefore doesn't include) the main event.

 

Should beating Rodríguez nudge Ioka up the p4p rankings?

He's currently at #10 per the Ring Mag, behind Lomachenko. Their respective only fights of 2021 (unless Ioka does squeeze in a New Year's Eve date) will be Nakatani and Rodríguez, with Loma coming off a loss and Ioka off stopping Tanaka in the previous year...so the question really becomes, for that ninth spot p4p, which is the better win?