Kazuto Ioka vs. Maikel Ordosgoitti | Lemino - December 31, 2025

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kazuto Ioka-Maikel Ordosgoitti WBA eliminator set for New Year's Eve in Tokyo

Kazuto Ioka has revived an old tradition, but it’s a new platform on which he will appear that has sparked industry-wide interest in what’s to come in the year ahead.

Ioka, 31-4-1 (16 KOs) and his team previously confirmed his plans to headline a New Year’s Eve boxing event in Tokyo, Japan. It was confirmed on Friday that his opponent will be Venezuela's Maikel Ordosgoitti, 15-1 (14 KOs), in a scheduled 12-round, WBA bantamweight title eliminator to signal Ioka's debut in the 118lbs division.

Also included on the show, ambitious junior flyweight Daiya Kira, 3-0 (2 KOs) will face Mexico's Ivan Garcia, 13-4-1 (5 KOs) in a WBA 108lbs elimination bout.

A major update to the event came earlier this week when it was revealed that his fight will air live on streaming service Lemino. The move signals – for now – the end of his working relationship with ABEMA-TV.

The significance in the platform switch is that Lemino is also the boxing home for Naoya and Takuma Inoue.

Naturally, speculation ran rampant that Takuma Inoue will become Ioka’s targeted foe in a 2026 bid to become Japan’s first-ever male five-division titlist. The younger Inoue claimed the WBC 118lbs title in a hard-fought, unanimous decision over previously unbeaten countryman Tenshin Nasukawa in their entertaining November 24 clash at Toyota Arena in Toyko.

For now, the objective for Ioka, 36, is to return to the win column. He will have to get past Ordosgoitti, who returns to his natural weight after his trying his luck in the featherweight portion of the WBC Grand Prix Tournament earlier this year.

Ioka - a former 105lbs, 1081lbs, 112lbs and 115lbs titleholder - was considered unlucky to come up short versus then-unbeaten WBA titlist Fernando “Puma” Martinez in their May 11 rematch at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo. The bout came 10 months after Ioka’s WBA 115lbs reign came to a close via unanimous decision in their July 2024 WBA/IBF unification bout at Tokyo’s famed Ryogoku Kokugikan Arena.

Ioka’s last victory came in his previous New Year’s Eve appearance, a 7th round knockout of Josber Perez in 2023. His forthcoming appearance on the year-end holiday will mark his 13th such occasion.

The tradition dates back to 2011, the year Ioka claimed the WBC 105lbs belt for his first major title. From there through 2023, the only year where he didn’t fight on New Year’s Eve came in 2017, when he was briefly retired.

Plans were previously in place for Ioka and Martinez to rematch last New Year’s Eve. Martinez withdrew just hours before the pre-fight weigh-in due to extreme health issues, for which he was a no-show for the preceding media workout and final pre-fight press conference.

While Ioka is set to resume that tradition this year, it will come in a non-title fight.

However, there are still major implications attached. A win could change his luck for his next outing, regardless of whether Ioka attempts the WBA route.

A major card is being planned for next May at the famed Tokyo Dome, expected to be topped by undisputed champion Naoya Inoue’s long-awaited all-Japanese super fight with Junto Nakatani.

Takuma Inoue is expected to defend his WBC 118lbs title on the undercard. Mr. Hideuyki Ohashi, founder and head of Ohashi Promotions and the promoter for both Inoues, confirmed that Ioka is on a list of high-profile options for the challenge.

Such a fight was never previously considered, because the Inoues and Ioka always ran in different circles. Most recently, Ioka’s deal with ABEMA-TV served as a roadblock, which is now removed with the decision for Lemino to carry his events moving forward.

Ioka is 10-1-1 (7 KOs) in his previous 12 New Year’s Eve headliners, all in title fights. He is presently joined by Naoya Inoue as the only male Japanese boxers ever to win major titles in four weight divisions. Ioka now aims to join female boxing legend Naoko Fujioka as Japan’s only-ever five-division titleholders.

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Kazuto Ioka Set For Bantamweight Debut Against Maikel Ordosgoitti On Dec. 31

Former four-weight world champion Kazuto Ioka will continue his tradition year-end appearance when he faces Maikel Ordosgoitti in Japan.

The Ring's No. 2-rated junior bantamweight Ioka, will make his 118-pound debut in a 12-round WBA bantamweight title eliminator when boxing for the 13th time on December 31.

Ioka is rated No. 5 by the WBC, No. 9 with the WBA and No. 11 in the IBF's bantamweight rankings at the time of writing.

The 36-year-old (31-4-1, 16 KOs) won world titles at strawweight and junior flyweight but lost when he faced IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng in May 2014.

The Japanese star rebounded to edge past Juan Carlos Raveco via majority decision for the WBA flyweight title a year later. He made five defenses, including an 11th-round stoppage of Raveco to banish any doubts about the decision in their rematch eight months later.

Ordosgoitti (15-1, 14 KOs) steamrolled his first 12 opponents, all inside the distance, and picked up the Venezuelan national title by outpointing Ernesto Martinez in July 2024.

The 24-year-old fought in the WBC Grand Prix at featherweight and lost his unbeaten record to Angel Sauceda Hinojosa over six rounds.

Meanwhile, in the chief support bout fast-rising Daiya Kira will take on Mexico's Ivan Garcia in a WBA junior flyweight title eliminator.
Kira (3-0, 2 KOs) was an amateur standout before making his professional debut last year.

The 22-year-old shut out Jackson Zapata via unanimous decision May 11.

Garcia (13-4-1, 5 KOs), 24, held Rodrigo Ramirez to a draw over 10 rounds in Venezuela in December 2023.

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Kazuto Ioka moves to bantamweight, set for NYE eliminator

Kazuto Ioka is looking to conquer a fifth division

Former four-division titlist Kazuto Ioka isn’t done quite yet. After losing his second straight competitive decision to Fernando “Pumita” Martinez in May, he’s now set to fight Maikel Ordosgoitti in a WBA bantamweight eliminator on New Year’s Eve.

Ioka (31-4-1, 16 KO) previously claimed belts at 105, 108, and 112 before a lengthy stay at 115 saw him enjoy two separate title reigns. At 36, he’s quite long in the tooth for the lower weight classes, but gave the ultra-aggressive Martinez two good scraps and seems to have at least something left in the tank.

Venezuela’s Ordosgoitti (15-1, 14 KO) has spent virtually his entire pro career in his home country, leaving only to drop a six-rounder to Angel Sauceda Hinojosa in the opening round of the WBC Grand Prix earlier this year. He’s 12 years younger than Ioka, but boasts an empty record.

It’s not entirely clear to me how the “eliminator” aspect of this will work. The WBA installed Ioka at no. 9 in their most recent rankings by virtue of his previous WBA title reigns, but Ordosgoitti is nowhere to be found. Moreover, the top of the division is a trainwreck right now; Seiya Tsutsumi was named champion in recess due to injury, only for the newly upgraded Antonio Vargas to withdraw due to a death in the family, prompting the WBA to throw Tsutsumi against interim champ Nonito Donaire next month. Even if Ioka trucks Ordosgoitti, you’d have to think he’s behind Vargas in the queue.

That said, he’s apparently got his sights on newly crowned WBC champ Takuma Inoue, so the whole thing might be moot.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week and a half !!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[Sendo Takeshi]

I'd take Ioka vs Inoue in May, if he wins here.

Even though I don't see how he is already ranked in both the WBA & WBC

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kazuto Ioka sees latest New Year’s Eve headliner as launch towards bantamweight title

Kazuto Ioka is honored to extend a tradition that dates back to his first year as a major titlist more than a decade ago.

The former four-division beltholder now sees his latest New Year’s Eve headliner as means to once again etch his name in the annals of Japanese boxing history.

Ioka, 31-4-1 (16 KOs), will make his bantamweight debut versus Venezuela's Maikel Ordosgoitti, 15-1 (14 KOs). Their scheduled 12-round, WBA bantamweight title eliminator tops a December 31 show from Ota-City General Gymnasium.

It will mark Ioka’s 10th appearance at the venue in his past 11 starts and also his sixth New Year’s Eve main event at the locale over the past seven years. This one comes with far greater purpose after suffering a pair of defeats to then-unbeaten Fernando “Puma” Martinez to end his WBA 115lbs title reign.

“After my last fight, I decided to move up to bantamweight and challenge for my fifth weight division,” Ioka told BS. “I feel that I can show a stronger version of myself in this new class.

“In my bantamweight debut, I want to deliver a performance that convinces everyone I can become a champion in this division as well.”

His first fight at a new weight begins with an old routine.

Ioka was more than competitive in the rematch with Martinez in May, which was postponed by more than four months. The two were due to run it back last New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, only for Martinez to withdraw just hours before the official pre-fight weigh-in.

The development left Ioka without a fight and his first empty New Year’s Eve date since 2017 – when he briefly retired before returning to the ring the following year.

Ioka eventually secured his rematch with Martinez this past May 11 but suffered a questionable, unanimous decision defeat. It turned out to be his final fight at 115lbs.

He now sets his sights on a bantamweight division in desperate need of a definitive leader.

Junto Nakatani, 32-0 (24 KOs), previously ruled the roost but is now campaigning at 122lbs. His time at bantamweight helped fill the void left behind by Naoya Inoue – fittingly, Nakatani’s next stated target for the undisputed championship next spring in Tokyo.

All of the 118lbs titles are once again spoken for, though the top spot is wide open.

“I’m not sure if I’ll immediately become the “main figure” of the division, but I’m confident that I can become a champion,” vowed Ioka.

Mexico and Japan both have two beltholders in the division. Jose Salas, 17-0 (11 KOs), and Christian Medina, 26-4 (19 KOs), hold the IBF and WBO belts, respectively.

Seiya Tsutsumi, 13-0-1 (8 KOs), barely got past former four-division champ Nonito Donaire on December 17. He was forced to undergo surgery for a busted nose that could jeopardize his WBA reign if he can’t honor his mandatory with Antonio Vargas.

That situation is worth monitoring by Team Ioka, given the stakes of this bout.

Takuma Inoue, 21-2 (5 KOs), holds the WBC belt, and was also a rumored option for Ioka next spring with a win this week. Wednesday’s show will air live on Lemino, which also houses the Inoue brothers. The move to the platform came after years of Ioka working with ABEMA-TV.

Regardless of whether Inoue or a shot at a WBA title – “Super” or “interim” – Ioka understands the importance of not just winning on Wednesday, but sending a message to the rest of the bantamweight division.

“If I can achieve my fifth divisional world title, I believe it will prove the importance of challenging yourself, and that accomplishments come from taking on those challenges,” said Ioka.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kazuto Ioka right at 118lbs limit for bantamweight debut vs. Maikel Ordosgoitti

Kazuto Ioka flexed for the assembled media on hand and then calmly drank a rehydration beverage after checking in at the heaviest weight of his storied career.

The former four-division titlist came in right at the 118lbs limit for his bantamweight debut. Venezuela’s Maikel Ordosgoitti was comfortably under the mark at 117.5lbs for their bantamweight title eliminator.

Lemino will stream their scheduled 12-round main event live this Wednesday from Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

“We successfully added the weight and are in really good condition for this fight,” Ioka assured the media during the final pre-fight press conference following the weigh-in ceremony.

The winner will become the mandatory challenger to the WBA 118lbs title currently held by Seiya Tsutsumi, 13-0-1 (8 KOs). However, Tsutsumi’s availability is in question after having surgery to repair a broken nose sustained in his thrilling December 17 win over Nonito Donaire.

Regardless, Ioka is determined to re-enter the title mix after back-to-back defeats to Martinez. He lost his WBA belt to the high-octane Argentinean during their July 2024 title unification clash in Tokyo. Their delayed rematch – as referenced in the above New Year’s Eve fallout last year – resurfaced in May and ended with Ioka dropping a questionable decision.

Ordosgoitti, 15-1 (14 KOs) travels to Japan for the first time, which also marks just his second fight outside of Venezuela.

The lone other road trip took place this past April during the opening round of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ordosgoitti suffered a knockdown en route to a six-round, unanimous decision defeat to Mexico’s Angel Hinojosa.

Ordosgoitti has since returned to the win column with a first-round knockout over a walkover opponent on June 21 in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.

Ioka, 31-4-1 (16 KOs) will headline a boxing event on New Year’s Eve for the 13th time. He was forced to skip the tradition last year when then-unbeaten IBF titlist Fernando Martinez fell ill and withdrew just hours before the weigh-in. Ioka was left without enough time to secure an emergency replacement, which forced him off the show.

The 36-year-old Osaka-born, Tokyo-based ring legend is 10-1-1 (7 KOs) overall on the year-end holiday. This year’s offering is a rare occasion where a major – or even a secondary – belt is not at stake. Ioka has either defended or fought for a title on every New Year’s Eve from 2011-2017 and 2019-2023.

Instead, he fights for the right to challenge for a bantamweight belt, which he hopes to do in his next fight with a win on Wednesday.

[Sendo Takeshi]

It’s always a hassle to watch Japanese fighters unless Naoya is on the card. I don’t think I’ll waste my time hunting for a stream this time
I’ll probably just wait for the results.

[Sendo Takeshi]

Seems like Ioka knocked him out in 4.
I hope he fights Inoue next in May.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Kazuto Ioka stops Maikel Ordosgoitti, eyes Takuma Inoue showdown

Kazuto Ioka did not waste any time to establish himself at a new weight.

The former four-division titlist made quick work of Venezuela’s Maikel Ordosgoitti, whom he stopped in the 4th round of their WBA 118lbs title eliminator. Ioka scored knockdowns, the latter of which was enough to put away Ordosgoitti in their Lemino-streamed main event Wednesday from Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Ioka, 32-4-1 (17 KOs), entered the fight on the heels of back-to-back defeats to Fernando Martinez, the first which ended his second 115lbs title reign. The two years between wins is the largest such gap at any point in his storied, Hall of Fame-bound career.

That problem was corrected on Wednesday, for which he officially weighed a career-heaviest 118lbs to begin his bantamweight campaign. The additional poundage carried well for Ioka, who hadn’t scored a knockout in two years but quickly appeared to be on his way.

Ordosgoitti, 15-2 (14 KOs), a WBC Boxing Grand Prix participant, quickly found himself out of his depth in by far his biggest step-up in class. The visiting Venezuelan had only fought once before outside of his home country - this past April during the opening round of the WBC Boxing Grand Prix tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Ordosgoitti suffered a knockdown en route to a six-round, unanimous decision defeat to Mexico’s Angel Hinojosa.

He barely made it out of the 2nd round, when Ioka floored Ordosgoitti with a digging body shot. Ordosgoitti beat the count and made it to the bell, but could never land anything in return to make Ioka flinch, much less turn the tide.

Ioka once again went to his left hook to the body in the 4th round. The force of the shot visibly moved Ordosgoitti to his left before he found himself back on the canvas. This time, his corner urged referee Koji Tanaka to end the fight, saving their charge from additional punishment.

The early night marked Ioka’s first knockout since his previous New Year’s Eve headliner, a 7th round stoppage of Josber Perez. Overall, Ioka is now 11-1-1 (8 KOs) on the year-end holiday.

Wednesday’s victory puts him in line for the WBA 118lbs title, though a crowded field given the sanctioning body’s addiction to creating different versions of the belt.

Seiya Tsutsumi, 13-0-1 (8 KOs), is the current primary WBA 118lbs titleholder after his narrow win over Nonito Donaire two weeks ago. However, Donaire, 43-9-1 (28 KOs), is lobbying for a rematch, along with “Champion in Recess” Antonio Vargas due a shot at his old best by no later than April 15.

It makes sense, then – for that reason as well as the new streaming platform for Ioka – that the next stated target could instead be WBC 118lbs titleholder Takuma Inoue, 21-2 (5 KO). Both boxers are now under Lemino, a move made by Ioka shortly upon finalizing this event after years of fighting on rival streaming platform ABEMA-TV.

As previously reported by BS, rumors have already swirled of Inoue-Ioka landing on next year’s targeted Naoya Inoue-Junto Nakatani super card at the Tokyo Dome. Naoya is Takuma’s older brother, and Ioka’s promoter – Yusuki Ninomiya of Shishei Promotions – has an excellent relationship with Riyadh Season, who will be the primary sponsor for the event.

A win by Ioka will see him become Japan’s first-ever male five-division titlist, and joining the legendary Naoki Fujioka as the nation’s only two boxers to accomplish the feat.

Ioka is already the first male Japanese boxer to win titles at four weights – 105, 108, 112 and 115 – which he achieved in 2019. He is joined only by Naoya Inoue (108, 115, undisputed 118, undisputed 122), who captured his fourth divisional crown in 2023.

Rising junior flyweight Daiya Kira shines in co-feature

Wednesday’s card also featured the latest step in the blindingly quick development of Daiya Kira, 4-0 (3 KOs).

The second-year pro is already in line for the WBA 108lbs title after a 2nd round knockout of Ivan Garcia Balderas, 13-5-1 (5 KOs), in their title eliminator. A right hand put Garcia on the canvas, as he was counted out by referee Nobuto Ikehara at 27 seconds of the 2nd round.

Kira, a training and promotional stablemate of Ioka, turned pro last June and was quickly advanced to 8-round fights by his second pro outing. Wednesday was his first scheduled 10-round affair, presumably to be followed by his first scheduled 12-round contest next year.

Wednesday’s win will put Kira in line for the WBA 108lbs title currently held by unified WBA/WBO titlist Rene Santiago. There could be a slight delay in getting the title shot, as Santiago is also considering a rematch with former WBO titlist Shokichi Iwata.