By Ian S Palmer
Original article: https://www.sportsbetlistings.com/boxing/kazuto-ioka-vs-josber-perez-betting-odds-and-prediction/22568/
WBA Super Flyweight Champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan will be taking on Josber Perez of Venezuela in the annual Japanese New Year’s Eve match this Sunday, January 31st in Tokyo. The 12-rounder from Tokyo can be seen live on Abema in Japan. Ioka last fought in June when he beat Joshua Franco by unanimous decision in their rematch after battling to a controversial draw to retain his WBO title last New Year’s Eve. Ioka took Franco’s WBA title in the rematch as he was the only one eligible to win it as Franco came in overweight and the belt was vacant. Ioka gave up his gave up the WBO Title shortly after the first Franco fight as he felt a rematch was in order while the WBO wanted him to move on and fight fellow countryman Junto Nakatani. In total, Ioka defended the belt six times before vacating it. Perez last boxed in September when he stopped Jose Farfan in the fourth round for the Venezuelan Super Flyweight Title.
The 34-year-old Ioka of Osaka carries a record of 30-2-1 with 15 Ko’s. He dropped a split decision to Donnie Nietes on New Year’s Eve in 2018 in his first shot at the vacant WBO Super Flyweight Title and also lost a split decision to Amnat Ruenroeng for the IBF Flyweight Title in 2014 for his two career losses. He won the vacant Japanese Light Flyweight Crown in his sixth pro fight and then won the WBC Minimumweight Belt in his next outing when he stopped Kittipong Jaigrajang in the fifth round.
Ioka defended the Japanese Flyweight Belt three times and added the WBA Minimumweight Title in his third defense with a unanimous decision over Akira Yaegashi. He then took the WBA Light Flyweight Crown on New Year’s Eve 2012 by stopping Jose Rodriguez in the sixth round. He defended it nine times including wins over Juan Carlos Reveco (twice), Roberto Domingo Sosa, Keyvin Lara and Nare Yianleang. Ioka moved up to super flyweight in September, 2018 and captured the WBC Silver Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over McWilliams Arroyo.
Ioka won the vacant WBO Super Flyweight Title with a 10th-round stoppage of Aston Palicte of the Philippines in June, 2019. This gave him a world title in four different weight classes at minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight and he was the first Japanese boxer to achieve the feat. He defended the Super Flyweight Title against Jeyvier Cintron by unanimous decision on New Year’s Eve 2019 and stopped fellow countryman Kosei Tanaka in the eighth round on New Year’s Eve 2020 before beating Francisco Rodriguez, Ryoji Fukunaga and Nietes by unanimous decisions and then drawing and win over Franco.
Ioka stands just over 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64.5-inch reach and is one of Japan’s top boxers. However, he’s not as well known outside of Asia as fellow countrymen such as Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatini. He’s boxed 312 rounds since turning pro in 2009 and isn’t really a power puncher as 50 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and has gone the distance in six of his last seven outings. Ioka also owns a solid chin and is a world class boxer on all levels. He won six national high school amateur titles and reportedly went 95-10 before turning pro.
The 28-year-old Perez enters the ring with a mark of 20-3 with 18 Ko’s and is on a three-fight winning streak. He’s boxed just 83 rounds since turning pro in 2016 and has also won the WBA Fedebol and Venezuelan Flyweight Titles. His first loss came at the hands of Carlos Moreno by first-round TKO in 2016 while his second defeat was to Rober Barrera via a 10-round unanimous decision in 2019 in a shot at the vacant WBA Fedebol Flyweight belt. He then had a world title shot but was beaten by WBA Flyweight Champion Artem Dalakian by unanimous decision in February, 2020.
Perez measures 5-feet-5-inches tall with an unlisted reach so has an inch in height over Ioka. As far as power goes, he has quite a bit of it as 90 per cent of his victories have come by way of stoppage. Perez has struggled when stepping up in class and just six of his 23 opponents have entered the ring with a winning record. However, he does have the power to cause some damage in the ring regardless of who he’s facing and let’s not forget he went 12 rounds with the hard-hitting Dalakian.
Prediction…
Boxing runs through the family of Ioka as his uncle Hiroki Ioka, was a two-weight world champion in the 1980s and 90s and was the first boxer to capture the WBC Minimumweight World Title after it was created in 1987. He’s a solid boxer with decent power and likes to fight at close range and apply pressure with precise, accurate combinations to the head and body. Perez shouldn’t be taken lightly though due to his power but with Ioka at home again he should retain his title but may have to go the distance to do so.
