Is veteran Ioka capable of becoming champion in five categories? Will Takuma Inoue create a surprise like he did with Jerwin Ancajas?
All votes for Takuma Inoue ?? Am I the only one who thinks that while Takuma Inoue has become better defensively, Kazuto Ioka as a master counter boxer, can beat him?
No, I fully agree with you. If Ioka is reinvigorated and hitting hard at this new weight, he takes this pretty handily.
Honestly, his last fight was a really great performance. Even though I admit his opponent wasn't world-class more a regional class, I think Kazuto Ioka has aged better than Estrada, Chocolatito, or Donaire at 118 lbs.
The fact that Ioka choose Takuma Inoue instead of Seiya Tsutsumi is not a coincidence. I think that, at the world level in the 118 lbs : Takuma Inoue, Tenshin Nasukawa, and Daigo Higa are perfect opponents for the style of Ioka. You only have to see the fight against Kosei Tanaka to understand this; a boxer exposed to counter-punches risks being severely punished. I admit, however, that Takuma Inoue is the best of the bunch.
Yes clearly ! Kazuto Ioka's style is one that ages remarkably well. It's even amazing that Nonito Donaire, Vic Darchinyan, Estrada, Chocolatito, and Jorge Arce have remained so effective for a long time after so many tough fights and their boxing styles who are very very agressives. I also think that Ryosuke Nishida can age very well at 118 and 122 lbs. It's a shame that he moved up, Nishida would have unified the 118 lbs.
It's kind of a pity that that Donaire tested himself against so many young lions, had he targeted Estrada and Chocolatito, he'd have definitely sparked both of them, and while both shot, it would look great on his resume.
In hindsight, it's fortunate that the four kings at 115 lbs didn't face Nonito Donaire; they would all have been knocked out. Even Vic Darchinyan probably would have beaten them all. I still feel that it's done more damage to the careers of Cuadras, Estrada, Chocolatito, and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai not to have faced Nonito Donaire than the other way around. There's also Kazuto Ioka, Kosei Tanaka, Jerwin Ancajas, Naoya Inoue, Omar Narvaez, Donnie Nietes... that's quite a lot! Phumelele Cafu / Kosei Tanaka was supposed to defend the WBO Super Flyweight belt against Chocolatito, but the latter did not accept the fight. A fight against Kosei Tanaka would have been spectacular, both have amazing hands speeds and combinations.