On Sunday, WBA junior bantamweight Kazuto Ioka will return for his traditional New Year’s Eve date when he takes on former world title challenger Josber Perez at the Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan.
Ioka, The Ring’s number one ranked junior bantamweight, was hoping to face Ring champion and WBC titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada. It’s frustrating that both sides couldn’t reach an agreement, but the show must go on.
“My team spent a lot of time persistently negotiating with the Estrada camp, but we couldn’t reach an agreement,” Ioka (30-2-1, 15 knockouts) told The Ring via Yusuke Ninomiya. “Of course it is unfortunate, but for me the fight against Estrada is not everything.
“I am a champion and I believe it is my duty to fight a challenger. Also, there are many boxing fans who are looking forward to my fight on New Year’s Eve. Therefore, even if it is not a unification fight, I have decided to fight on New Year’s Eve.”
While an agreement could not be reached, it is believed that the fight still has possibilities in the future.
“Both my team and the Estrada camp will continue to have conversations about making this game happen next year,” Ioka said.
However, that may be hampered by rumors that IBF/WBO flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez will return to 115 pounds, where he mentioned facing the highly sought-after Estrada.
Ioka, 34, has won major titles in four weight classes. He initially won titles at strawweight, but then moved up to junior flyweight before adding more hardware at flyweight.
He retired for 17 months before returning and enjoying greater success at junior bantamweight, initially claiming the WBO title before abdicating his release to face Joshua Franco in their rematch in the summer.
Ioka is a consummate professional and remains focused on Perez, in what will be his first defense, but hopes to secure a career-defining fight next year.
“This will be the 12th time I’ll have a title fight on New Year’s Eve,” he said proudly. “I feel like my mission is to fight on New Year’s Eve and I will definitely win this fight.
“I will become a unified champion in 2024.”
While this may be something of a downfall of the proposed unification with Estrada, Ioka still has work to do and I expect him to box early and defuse the challenger’s power before forcing an eight-round stoppage.
Perez (20-3, 18 KOs) turned professional in 2016. The powerful Venezuelan was shocked in his fourth fight, but recovered well, earning the national title and also a WBA regional belt. The 28-year-old lost a close fight to former world title challenger Rober Barrera (UD 10).
Perez was dominated by Artem Dalakian (UD 12) when he challenged the Ukrainian for the WBA title in 2020. After a three-year hiatus, he returned with three wins.
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