BoxRec

Another huge fight at 115 looks to be getting made. Thoughts?

I'm looking forward to this a lot. I'd bet Tanaka to win.

Admire both guys a great deal.

Really like how Ioka came back and decided to go the extra mile after a fine career.

Ioka is pure class. So composed, such a good punch repertoire. He’s beaten two big super flyweights, two top contenders, for the vacant title and then the mandatory. And he deserves the big fight.

Figured that big fight would be Juan Francisco Estrada. But maybe he’s injured, or has something else scheduled. Tanaka is certainly worthy and he’s come up the same weight classes as Ioka. Will Tanaka overwhelm with speed and workrate? Or will the quality, accuracy and more responsible defense of Ioka settle things?

By the looks of it, another tremendous all Japan battle of the calibre of Ioka v Yaegashi, Tanaka v Taguchi and Tanaka v Kimura.

Is this genuinely in the works? Ioka said this isn’t his plan. But then Tanaka vacated his flyweight title...

Autobarn wrote: ↑06 Feb 2020, 04:55 Admire both guys a great deal.

Really like how Ioka came back and decided to go the extra mile after a fine career.

Ioka is pure class. So composed, such a good punch repertoire. He’s beaten two big super flyweights, two top contenders, for the vacant title and then the mandatory. And he deserves the big fight.

Figured that big fight would be Juan Francisco Estrada. But maybe he’s injured, or has something else scheduled. Tanaka is certainly worthy and he’s come up the same weight classes as Ioka. Will Tanaka overwhelm with speed and workrate? Or will the quality, accuracy and more responsible defense of Ioka settle things?

By the looks of it, another tremendous all Japan battle of the calibre of Ioka v Yaegashi, Tanaka v Taguchi and Tanaka v Kimura.

Is this genuinely in the works? Ioka said this isn’t his plan. But then Tanaka vacated his flyweight title...

Tanaka IS his mandatory, however Ioka isn't due a mandatory defense until the fall. What we likely see is the bout in December as part of the NYE event TBS (who do both fighters) hold.


IGNORE the Above - The WBO have decided that Ioka will be having back to back mandatory defenses....sure why not!

Ioka is a technically superior and more refined fighter, but Tanaka has that raw talent and will to win. Would love to see it.

Reckon it’ll be razor thin if it happens.

Scorecards might favour Tanaka, more willing to take chances. But, likely he’ll be very busted up whereas I’d think Ioka, maybe not throwing as many shots but choosing his moments, will look the fresher.

Like Ioka v Yaegashi, Tanaka v Kimura and even Tanaka v Taguchi, it’ll be close and bruising in all likelihood.