The super flyweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA), the Japanese Kazuto Ioka, was ordered to negotiate with John Ramírez to defend the black and gold belt in his next fight.
The championship committee gave a negotiation period that will begin this January 12 and end on February 12 and in which both parties must reach an agreement to hold the fight.
WBA Rule C.11 states that “a boxer who obtains a title by defeating a champion must defend his title initially and subsequently against the official contender or the best available contender as follows: In any division other than heavyweight: If you measure yourself against the official contender, you must do so within nine (9) months following the date of obtaining the title; If not the official contender, within one hundred twenty (120) days.”
In the case of Ioka, he won the title on June 24, 2023 and the period of his next mandatory defense expired on October 23 of the same year, so he will have to face John Ramírez.
Once the negotiation period has passed, both must reach an agreement. Otherwise, the committee may call an auction with a distribution of 75% for Ioka and 25% for Ramírez.
