Ioka Returns To Win Column, Seeks Ruenroeng Rematch

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Former two-division champion Kazuto Ioka resumed his winning ways, scoring a 10-round decision over Pablo Carrillo in their non-title fight Tuesday evening in Tokyo, Japan.

 

The bout is due to air via same-day tape delay on TBS Japan. Details of the win will follow immediately thereafter. Line results courtesy of on-location news tips from AsianBoxing.info .     

 

What is common knowledge is Ioka (15-1, 9KOs) is anxious to avenge the lone defeat of his career, a close-but-clear points loss to Amnat Ruenroeng this past May. The setback denied the 25-year old the opportunity to have won major titles in three weight classes, having enjoyed previous title reigns at strawweight and junior flyweight.

Ioka moved up in weight following a 12-round points win over Felix Alvarado last New Year's Eve. That the fight was the last of his reign at 108 lb. was fitting, considering it began exactly one year prior with a 6th round knockout of Jose Rodriguez.

 

Big boxing events on New Year's Eve have become a major tradition in Japan, with the each of the past three years featuring two major cards taking place in separate parts of the nation shortly before watching the ball drop. Ioka has been a part of all three cards, and plans to continue the tradition this year, with designs of a second crack at Ruenroeng and the chance to become a three-division champ.

Ruenroeng did his part, surviving a mid-rounds knockdown and a determined effort by Puerto Rico's McWilliams Arroyo to claim a split decision win last Wednesday in Thailand.

UNDERCARD

Ryo Miyazaki picked up his first win in more than a year, stopping overmatched Ichai Tobida in the fifth round of their over-the-limit junior flyweight bout.

 

The bout was less about the potential for competitive action as it was about Miyazaki acclimating himself to the junior flyweight division. Weight was a major point of contention in his last start, passing out at the weigh-in prior to an eventual 3rd round stoppage loss to Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. last New Year's Eve.

 

Miyazaki truthfully had no business even fighting that night, but was anxious to test the waters at junior flyweight following a brief stay as a strawweight titlist. In the nine months since that night, the 26-year old appeared fluid and comfortable while coming in below the contracted limit of 110 lb.

In shape and at full strength, Myazaki was way too much for his sub .500 opponent to handle. The action was entirely—and expectedly—one-way, all the way until its conclusive ending. Miyazaki dropped Tobida (10-13, 8KOs) hard roughly a minute into round five, with the count waived off after the journeyman's corner literally threw in the towel.

 

Miyazaki improves to 21-1-3 (12KOs). The win was his first since the final defense of his strawweight title, a 12-round majority decision over Jesus Silvestre just over a year ago, in a fight that easily could have landed in favor of the challenger.

A protégé of Ioka, Miyazaki landed the strawweight title opportunity when his stablemate moved up in weight to challenge for—and win—a junior flyweight bout. It seems the student will follow in his teacher's footsteps, as Miyazaki is angling for a title shot at 108 lb., hoping for the opportunity to come on New Year's Eve.

Off-camera, former lineal flyweight champ Malcolm Tunacao picked up his third straight win, a technical decision over Ryuta Otsaka in a bout stopped midway through round five.

 

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