About six months after the primary battle between Joshua Franco and Kazuto Ioka, they are going to return to the ring for a rematch for the World Boxing Affiliation (WBA) tremendous flyweight title on the Ota-Metropolis Normal Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
The 2 fighters had an exciting showdown on the finish of 2022, which led to a draw, so Franco retained his WBA belt. At the moment, Ioka owned the WBO belt and likewise remained in his possession.
Nevertheless, now solely the WBA belt can be at stake as Ioka vacated the WBO belt as a way to get a rematch with Franco, the battle he needed after what occurred final yr.
Franco is a fighter with an important boxing type who has already confirmed that he’s able to combating on the highest stage exterior the USA. The San Antonio native is properly remembered for his trilogies in opposition to Oscar Negrete and Andrew Moloney, nice moments that helped him grow to be the world champion right now.
“The Professor is 27 years outdated and can be seeking to make his fourth title protection in opposition to a veteran fighter like Ioka.
The Japanese has been world champion in 4 classes from the minimal to the tremendous fly and now desires to return to a black and gold belt, which he has not held since April 2017 when he vacated the flyweight belt to maneuver up a class.
Franco has a file of 18 wins, 1 loss, 3 attracts and eight knockouts. Ioka has 29 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw and 15 knockouts.
