Kazuto Ioka vs Ryoji Fukunaga is set for December 31st

Good news.

I don't know the other guy, is he a challenge for Ioka ?

 

100%, misleading record, he’s the best challenge in Japan Ioka could fight, as Ishida just fought Tanaka. If Ioka looks any worse at all than in his last fight he’ll lose. This guy is a big name in the Japanese boxing scene, and he’s really turned his career around since the pandemic. He’s very active and as Ioka isn’t, he really has chances to pull off the upset.

 

I'm pretty sure his last fight was considered a gift.

Has anyone seen it?

 

Tough fight, I have. A draw wouldn't have been unacceptable at all, even a loss wouldn't have, but there was no way they were going to give Ioka an L in that close of a fight on home soil. Anywhere besides Japan though and I don't think he could have gotten more than a split decision.

 

Ioka again? Tell me its not true.....

 

Sorry lads should have been more clear.

I meant Fukunaga's last fight.

 

He's pretty good and better than his record but still not on Ioka's level and should be decisively beaten unless Ioka looks even worse than he did versus Chihuas. That said, I am over the moon that Ioka gets to preserve the NYE date, no matter whether the opponent is a downgrade from Ancajas...still not a bad one, and he's ranked #11 by the WBO so he wasn't insanely far off deserving a crack at Ioka eventually anyway.

 

Thanks, is there any Japanese fighter who would you recommend to keep a close eye on ?

Currently I watch Yabuki, Teraji and Kyoguchi from light fly division.

 

This kid for certain:

Ginjiro "Silver-Bullet Dynamo" Shigeoka

His brother Yudai also is an unbeaten southpaw with a bright future, just somewhat less of a beast.

...and I assume you already have Nakatani on your radar?

Kenshiro and Tanaka were getting mega hype until both got exposed within the last year. They're still world class, mind you, but it definitely no longer feels like they're set to inherit the "next great Japanese fighter" mantle from Inoue and Ioka.

Hinata Maruta has been quietly building himself up since a couple of setbacks a few years ago.

And then you have the crazy ass Yuki Beppu - not close to being the greatest in the country, but may just be the most exciting. Consistently puts on banger matches, win or lose. For instance:
Yuki Beppu vs. Ryota Yada - IB's standalone RBR scorecard

 

Yeah.


How good is Kurihara from Inoues division ? One of the guys told me in the gym, I look at the record and he has recent loss with Inoue's brother.

don't know, have to check

 

I was going to name Ginjiro too, lol. Dude is phenomenal. Too bad he's so small he'll probably never move up.