Looks like there'll be two fascination fights in Osaka tonight, both of them title bouts. As an exciting young upstart Kazuto Ioka, climbed into the pro ring for just the seventh time, when he faced one of the great Thailand fighters of the modern era, Oleydong Sithsamerchai, a man who in only his third bout, captured the WBC Youth Minimumweight Title. He would defend that bauble an unbeaten sixteen times. Then came his chance against the best, he beat Eagle Den Junlaphan for the full WBC Minimumweight Title. Junlaphan would hold that belt aloft six more times before he ran into and was stopped by Kazuto Ioka in the fifth round of their meeting. Ioka then went back to back WBC wins, then added the WBA Minimumweight title before relinquishing both belts and moving up to win the WBA Light Flyweight title. Three undefeated title wins saw him again give up the belt to move higher. He then set his sights on one mean mother Amnat Rouenrong, IBF bad boy and the reigning Flyweight king who had, just three months before, beaten Rocky Fuentes for the vacant title. In a battle royal, Kazuto Ioka went down in a split decision. Three fight later the WBA Featherweight Title was his. Tonight he looks to make his fourth shutout, this time against Keyvin Lara of Nicaragua, a man given little hope. One quote has Kazuto Ioka at 1-50, Lara at 10-1. It should be a one sided affair, but it's always good to see a class act at work.
The second fight is going to be a more even affair. After Frampton dumped his Bantamweight belt, the IBF ordered a No1 Shingo Wake and No2 Jonathan Guzman into the ring for the vacant title. Neither man has fought for a world strap before this. Wake of Japan is a fast moving boxer with sharp hands, while his Dominican opponent is the quintessential thumper. This fight is all about styles. Wake is not a puncher, but pundits expect the southpaw to win through ring craft, if he manages reach the final bell. Guzman on the other hand appears to be a walking, gloved up, smashing machine. He's had 21 fights, and nobody has beaten the count. To gain this bout, Guzman had to face off against Mexican Daniel Rosas. It was a brutal affair. After being dropped twice and copping a right old beating, the ref stepped in and ordered a merciful end. The big question now is whether Guzman can catch Wake and inflict enough pain to put an end to the bout, or will Wake's guile see him home. I can't get a trusted betting market on the fight, so a win either way wouldn't surprise me at all.