Saturday, December 31, 2022

Boxing Challenge

  The final boxing challenge of the year takes place in Tokyo with a junior bantamweight unification battle between WBA champion Joshua Franco and WBO titleholder Kazuto Ioka.

Franco was recently elevated to full WBA champion from a minor titleholder when then champion and current WBC boss Juan Francisco Estrada declined to face Franco in a WBA-mandated clash.

Franco hasn't fought since August 2021 when he won a unanimous decision in the third of his three fights vs Andrew Moloney, while Ioka has fought three times in that time span, with his last fight a decision win over Donnie Nietes, avenging a loss to Nietes in 2018.

Ioka is the smaller fighter and gives away height and reach to Franco but has the hometown advantage and the activity edge as well, so this could go either way.

Boxing Challenge

Unification WBA and WBO Junior Bantamweight Titles. 12 Rds 
Joshua Franco vs Kazuto Ioka

Ramon Malpica: Ioka KO 3
TRS: Ioka Unanimous Decision
Vince Samano: Franco Unanimous Decision


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