Donnie Nietes vs. Kazuto Ioka: Vacant WBO Title- December 31, 2018

[Ruthless-RKO]

A deal has been agreed to for the vacant junior bantamweight world title fight between Donnie Nietes and Kazuto Ioka, Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions told ESPN on Tuesday night.

Loeffler, who recently signed Ioka, said that while the fight is not yet signed, he, TLAROCK (the management company that represents Ioka) and Nietes promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions have a deal for the bout after several weeks of discussions.

The fight is slated to take place on Dec. 31 at the Wynn Palace resort in Macau, China. The New Year's holiday is a traditional time for world title bouts in Asia.

Nietes (41-1-5, 23 KOs), 36, of the Philippines, is bidding to win a world title in a fourth weight division. He most recently fought to a draw with countryman Aston Palicte (24-2-1, 20 KOs) on Loeffler's "Superfly 3" HBO-televised card on Sept. 8 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.

Palicte sought an immediate rematch, but the WBO denied his request and ordered Nietes to face Ioka for the vacant 115-pound title, mainly because the prevailing opinion was that Nietes deserved the victory.

Ioka (23-1, 13 KOs), 29, of Japan, is also seeking a world title in a fourth weight class. In his last fight, he ended a 17-month retirement and made his debut in the junior bantamweight division with a 10-round decision win over McWilliams Arroyo on the Nietes-Palicte undercard.

[Boxing Prospect]

Think Ioka takes him out with a body shot... And shows why Nietes has never previously fought a Japanese fighter

Someone might want to tell TBS the bout isn't yet signed given they are advertising the TV slot and everything ;)

[Ruthless-RKO]

Not a bad card

[jamamb]

nice card

[Ruthless-RKO]

Stats & Stakes

Kazuto Ioka

Age: 29
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBC minimumweight (2011-12, 3 Defenses); WBA minimumweight (2012); WBA flyweight (2016-17, 2 Defenses); also held WBA light flyweight and flyweight sub-titles
Height: 5’5
Weight: 114 ½ lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Tokyo, Japan
Record: 23-1, 13, 15 KOs
Press Rankings: #2 (TBRB), #3 (Ring, BoxRec), #5 (Boxing Monthly), #6 (ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 6-1, 3 KO (14-1, 8 KO including WBA sub-title fights)
Last Five Opponents: 149-10-1 (.934)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Oleydong Sithsamerchai TKO5; Juan Hernandez UD12; Akira Yaegashi UD12; Kwanthai Sithmorseng KO7; Felix Alvarado UD12; Amnat Ruenroeng L12; Juan Carlos Reveco MD12, TKO11

vs.

Donnie Nietes

Age: 36
Title: None
Previous Titles: WBO minimumweight (2007-11, 4 Defenses); WBO light flyweight (2011-16, 9 Defenses); Ring Magazine Jr. Flyweight (2014-16, 5 Defenses); IBF flyweight (2017-18, 1 Defense)
Height: 5’3
Weight: 115 lbs.
Stance: Orthodox
Hails from: Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines
Record: 41-1-5, 23 KOs
Press Rankings: #4 (BoxRec), #6 (Boxing Monthly), #7 (Ring), #8 (ESPN)
Record in Major Title Fights: 16-0-2, 7 KO
Last Five Opponents: 175-20-1 (.895)
Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced: Pornsawan Porpramook UD12; Mario Rodriguez UD12; Ramon Garcia UD12; Moises Fuentes D12, KO9; Francisco Rodriguez UD12; Raul Garcia RTD5; Edgar Sosa UD12; Juan Carlos Reveco KO7

The Pick: In this abbreviated holiday edition, let’s skip straight to the finish. Nietes is a talented boxer who works well off the jab and knows how to keep a fight at a manageable pace. At 36, it could be a tall order. Against Aston Palicte in his last fight, it appeared Nietes deserved the win (it was a draw) but he looked a little slower and older than he ever had. His chance for a fourth title, to join Gonzalez and Leo Gamez as the only men to win titles from 105 to 115 lbs., may have slipped away. Ioka is younger, taller, longer, quicker, and probably has the edge in power. He’s more suited to Jr. bantamweight and seemingly refreshed after a layoff. Ioka’s jab and body punching should ultimately wear Nietes down to give him a full title in his third weight class and inside track for even bigger fights in 2019.

[Autobarn]

Has it started yet?

Obviously the results are in for Kyoguchi-Budler & the Mthalane fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Has it started yet?

Obviously the results are in for Kyoguchi-Budler & the Mthalane fight.

I'm trying to find some commentary on the fight.. all I can see is play-by-play for the Mayweather Rizin fight card.

[Autobarn]

I'm very excited about this contest.

Hoping for one of the best Super Fly fights yet.

Nietes is a defensive wizard and Ioka is a superb offensive fighter.

If Ioka can do it, he really moves forward from that disappointing defeat to Ruenrong, from years back, when he couldn't pin down the awkward pure boxer.

[Deadendgeneration]

Just remembered this is on. How's it gone so far? My stream is in Chinese so no idea what the commentators are saying.

[Miman]

Nietes won via Split dec.

[Miman]

Nietes becomes the 3rd filipino to win titles in 4 divisions.

[Deadendgeneration]

SD. Was a bit in and out trying to watch it on my phone at the pub and only tuned in from the end of round 5. Felt close, with Ioka seeming to land slightly more but Nietes landing the better stuff. Ioka looked like he knew he lost at the bell though.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Donnie Nietes Edges Kazuto Ioka For WBO Title in Action Fight

For the vacant World Boxing Organization super flyweight world title, Donnie Nietes (42-1, 23 KOs) won a tough twelve round split decision over Kazuto Ioka (23-2, 13 KOs). The scores were 118-110 for Nietes, 116-112 for Ioka, and 116-112 for Nietes.

With the win, Nietes becomes a four division world champion - and the victory blocked Ioka from becoming the first four division world champion from Japan.

Ioka retired in April 2017 as the WBA flyweight champion. He resumed his career back in September, by making his American debut with a solid ten round decision win over McWilliams Arroyo to capture the WBC silver super flyweight title at The Forum in Inglewood, California. Coming in, Ioka built up a nine fight win streak since losing a close twelve round split decision to Amnat Ruenroeng in 2014.

Ioka was working behind a very solid jab in the early rounds, but it was Nietes who was landing some very solid punches to get the crowd excited.

In the third, they were both finding success with hard shots landing. More of the same in the fourth, with Nietes getting off with big counters to the head. Ioka was targeting heavy to the body and connecting with some decent head shots as well.

Ioka was still working hard behind his jab in the fifth and pressing forward. Nietes was using the jab to get in close to land quick shots or combinations. In the sixth, they were trading punches and jabs at close range. Nietes seemed to have the edge when it came to landing upstairs.

The eight was very close, with Ioka landing the best shots of the round. Ioka was pushing Nietes back with the jab in the ninth. The defense of both was on display, with many punches being partially blocked. They were trading heavy leather in the closing seconds.

Both were picking their shots with more care in the ninth. Ioka had made adjustments with using a lot more movement in the tenth, giving Nietes some issues when it came to landing punches of note.

The eleventh was another round where both had their moments. Nietes closed the round stronger with his flashier punches, but Ioka rallied really hard in the closing seconds. The twelfth and final round saw seesaw action. Both boxers were doing their best to let it all hang out. Nietes once again was landing the flashier punches, with Ioka targeting the body in close and using his jab as the main weapon.

[Autobarn]

Can't wait to catch up with this one. Sounds like yet another exciting all Asian fight.

Nietes achieves greatness.

I hope Ioka can come back. He has a serious body of work and has been in many good fights. The only thing missing is a win over a mobile fighter who can box. If nothing else it sounds like he did better this time, than he did vs Ruenrong.

Hope there's still a stage and money for the Super Flies. Would be very exciting to see Ioka in there with the Thai monster, For Rungvisai/Wilasek Wangek.

[Autobarn]

Joe Koizumi has written it appeared Ioka had done enough; and Bad Left Hook called it a questionable decision. Whereas other reports contradict this.

Any opinions on this fight? The only agreement that I’m seeing is that it was a very good one.

[giacomino]

Joe Koizumi has written it appeared Ioka had done enough; and Bad Left Hook called it a questionable decision. Whereas other reports contradict this.

Any opinions on this fight? The only agreement that I’m seeing is that it was a very good one.

I have been reading Koizumi for 40 years and have tended to think he's a bit of a homer for Japanese fighters, but I thought it could have gone either way. The 118-110 score for Nietes was silly. Decent scrap but, IMO, not particularly dramatic. A ton of Nietes title fights over the years have been against cupcakes, but he beat two legitimately good fighters this year in Reveco and Ioka. Honorable mention for FOTY, IMO

[Boxing Prospect]

Felt Ioka had done enough, wasn't much in it thihgh. Excellent fight

[Deadendgeneration]

Joe Koizumi has written it appeared Ioka had done enough; and Bad Left Hook called it a questionable decision. Whereas other reports contradict this.

Any opinions on this fight? The only agreement that I’m seeing is that it was a very good one.

I've watched it back and it's a really close fight with Ioka seeming to land more punches, Nietes the flashier. I found it strange at the time, and even more so having watched it back that Ioka looked so much like a beaten fighter at the bell. He went back to his corner and leaned over the ring post, Nietes on the other hand, raised his arms and then got on his trainer's shoulders.

[Boxing Prospect]

Joe Koizumi has written it appeared Ioka had done enough; and Bad Left Hook called it a questionable decision. Whereas other reports contradict this.

Any opinions on this fight? The only agreement that I’m seeing is that it was a very good one.

As someone who covers a similar scene Joe' knowledge is amazing his.... Writing style is.. Awkward and the delay on his domestic reports is... Frustrating... At best and annoying... Regularly

[Autobarn]

Joe Koizumi has written it appeared Ioka had done enough; and Bad Left Hook called it a questionable decision. Whereas other reports contradict this.

Any opinions on this fight? The only agreement that I’m seeing is that it was a very good one.

I have been reading Koizumi for 40 years and have tended to think he's a bit of a homer for Japanese fighters, but I thought it could have gone either way. The 118-110 score for Nietes was silly. Decent scrap but, IMO, not particularly dramatic. A ton of Nietes title fights over the years have been against cupcakes, but he beat two legitimately good fighters this year in Reveco and Ioka. Honorable mention for FOTY, IMO

thanks for the info. truly tantalised by this fight. can't wait to grab a DVD of it.

thinking that Ioka can possibly improve win this. he has some rounds, some momentum now. and Nietes should have been the completely wrong style for him, the slick defensive boxer. yet he did well, some feeling he won, despite moving into big fights very soon following the layoff.

weirdly Nietes' people said he would need a KO to win. a stoppage from either would've been unlikely. but it sounds like Ioka, who is slower of foot and a good body puncher, should have been more aggressive? that Ioka should have taken on more the role of pressure fighter in this one...

glad for Nietes but I do think if he gets the Srisaket fight, he could get blasted out. If the Thai is the same fighter who fought Gonzalez and Estrada. Think it'll be like Giovanni Segura's fights with Ivan Calderon, exciting but one way.

[Autobarn]

Felt Ioka had done enough, wasn't much in it thihgh. Excellent fight

Hope Ioka isn't too discouraged, and still has the desire.

[oogiebe]

Turned out to be an action packed matchup. Thought Nietes won, not sure about the one judge 116-112 for Kazuto.

[Datsue]

I thought it was a decent fight, but by no stretch of the imagination was it "action-packed".

Nietes controlled the exchanges, even though it was Ioka setting the pace—Kazuto often had his hands moving but hd trouble landing cleanly. Ioka's lack of head movement & constant eating of right-hand counters meant it was difficult to make a case for him even in rounds where he got his workrate going or managed to use his superior wheels to bounce in & out. In addition, the Japanese fighter neglected to properly utilise the jab (I don't think he threw more than a couple of double jabs all night).

Nietes also looked like the puncher in there, to me. A well-deserved win for the Filipino IMO, though the scoring was (like in most of Nietes' fights, it seems) all over the place.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Full Fight

[Autobarn]

Can't wait to see, especially with the divergence of opinions.

Nietes has called out Srisaket. Is there a stage and a platform to make fights like this anymore? With HBO, who started that Super Fly theme, out of boxing...