Boxing Challenge: Ioka avenges Nietes defeat in rematch

    Kazuto Ioka controlled the fight from the opening and easily retained his WBO junior bantamweight title via unanimous decision over former four-division champion Donnie Nietes in Tokyo Japan.

The victory avenged a controversial split decision loss to Nietes in 2018 and could send the forty year old Nietes into his retirement years.

Ioka was the stronger fighter and pounded Nietes throughout a fight along with cutting him over the left eye.

Ioka did try to quicken the pace in the second half of the fight and had he been busier in the first half, perhaps Ioka could have scored a late round knockout as Nietes weakened.

For Ioka, perhaps a unification fight could be next against IBF champion Fernando Martinez, as Ioka had one scheduled last year against then-IBF champion Jerwin Ancajas that was canceled due to Covid considerations before Martinez dethroned Ancajas.

Ioka is deserving of a bigger fight in the 115 pound division that ranks with the junior welterweight division as the deepest and most competitive in boxing.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 129 Pts (2) 

Ramon Malpica: 107 Pts (2)

Vince Samano: 104 Pts (2)