The UK and Latin America have easy access, while American viewers will need to pay a few bucks extra.

2020’s last big fight also figures to be one of its best. This Thursday morning at 4:00 AM Eastern, 25-year-old Kosei Tanaka attempts to become a WBO four-division champion against countryman and current WBO Jr. Bantamweight World Champion Kazuto Ioka, who became the first male Japanese boxer to achieve the feat last year. The bout airs live on Japanese channel TBS, but luckily for us gaijin, there are a few ways to tune in.

USA: Unfortunately, no American network or streaming service has acquired broadcast rights at the time of writing. That doesn’t mean piracy is the only option, though: Asian Boxing has a guide on how to subscribe to iSakura, which allows access to TBS and other local channels. Conveniently, iSakura offers a three-day trial, which you don’t have to manually cancel afterwards, for $2.50. Just be sure to order by the end of the day; going by the website, it can take a while to process your payment.

UK: BoxNation has you covered.

Latin America: ESPN KnockOut provided a handy country-by-country breakdown.

By Patrick L. Stumberg / BadLeftHook.com

||||||||||||||

One of the best fights on the schedule is now official. Four-division champion Kazuto Ioka will defend his WBO Jr. Bantamweight World title on New Year’s Eve against unbeaten three-division WBO champion Kosei Tanaka.

The 31-year-old Ioka (25-2, 14 KO) has been excelling at the world level for nearly a decade, having claimed his first title in 2011 as a minimumweight. He enjoyed strong reigns at 105, 108, and 112 pounds, losing only to Amnat Ruenroeng by split decision along the way, and smashed Aston Palicte to become Japan’s first male four-division champion last year.

He made his first title defense last NYE against Jeyvier Cintron.

Tanaka (15-0, 9 KO) has pushed a breakneck pace in his rise through the lower weights, winning a WBO minimumweight belt of his own in 2015 at the age of 19. He defended that title once, the light flyweight title twice, and the flyweight title three times before moving to 115, where he became Ioka’s mandatory challenger per WBO policy.

He’s unquestionably among the most exciting fighters in the sport, and I can’t imagine this matchup being anything other than fireworks. Tanaka is in search of his fourth division and if he does so, he will be the first boxer who has done it in fewest fights. The current record is held by Oscar de la Hoya who did it in 24 bouts.

Via badlefthook.com

||||

💥TONIGHT December 28th – Vacant WBO NABO Jr. Featherweight Championship: Angelo Leo Vs. César Juarez @ State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia.

💥Five WBO Bouts on December 31st @ Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan:

Main Event – WBO Jr. Bantamweight World Champion Kazuto Ioka Vs. Jeyvier Cintron

Co-Main Event – WBO Flyweight World Champion Kosei Tanaka Vs. Wulan Tuolehazi

WBO Jr. Bantamweight Female World Champion Miyo Yoshida Vs. Li Ping Shi

Vacant WBO Asia Pacific Jr. Featherweight Championship: Yusaku Kuga vs. Jhunriel Ramonal

WBO Mini-Flyweight Asia Pacific Champion Ginjiro Shigeoka Vs. Rey Loreto

💥January 10, 2020 – For vacant WBO Jr. Middleweight Female Championship Claressa Shields Vs. Ivana Habazin @ Ocean Resort Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA.

💥January 11, 2020 – Vacant NABO Light Heavyweight Championship title Jesse Hart vs. Joe Smith, Jr. @ Mark G Etess Arena, Atlantic City, NJ.

💥January 18, 2020 – Vacant WBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Eleider Alvarez vs. Michael Seals @ Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, NY

Also, WBO Asia Pacific Jr. Middleweight Champion Takeshi Inoue Vs. Cheng Su @ Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan.

💥January 30, 2020 – WBO Middleweight World Champion Demetrius Andrade Vs. Luke Keeler @ Meridian at Island Gardens, Miami, Florida.

💥February 1, 2020 – Unified WBO Jr. Welterweight Champion José Ramirez Vs. Viktor Postol @ Mission Hills Haikou, Haikou, China.

💥February 20, 2020 – WBO NABO Jr. Welterweight Champion Yomar Alamo Vs. Kendo Castaneda @ Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, Florida.

💥February 20, 2020 – Vacant WBO European Featherweight Championship David Oliver Joyce Vs. Lee Haskins @ Ulster Hall, Belfast.

More to come…

|||||||||||||

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) will hold its thirty-second annual convention in the city of Tokyo, Japan, from December 2 to 5, 2019.

As every year, the presence of world sport legends, world champions and former champions, world ranked contenders, prospects, trainers, managers, promoters, officers, as well as figures from political, social and cultural circles are expected.

The convention will also include judge and referee seminars, committee reports, and an awards gala. Various topics will be discussed, many related to fighter safety, global regulations, and classifications, among other topics.

The convention will be broadcast live on the official WBO Facebook page www.facebook.com/WorldBoxingOrg

The agenda of the convention is available at the following link: www.wboboxing.com/news/wbo-news/wbo-tokyo-convention-2019-agenda/

|||||||||||

World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 1-ranked contender “Mighty” Aston Palicte (25-2-1, 21 KOs)will face three-division world champion Kazuto Ioka (23-2, 13 KOs)for the vacant WBO Junior Bantamweight World Championship, June 19 at Osaka Orefectural Gym in Osaka, Japan.

UFC Fight Pass® has the worldwide live streaming rights outside of Japan. Palicte vs. Ioka will be is the first world boxing championship on FIGHT PASS, under a new agreement between Palicte’s promoter, RJJ Boxing, and FIGHT PASS, to live stream up to 72 professional boxing events through 2021.

The Palicte vs. Ioka deal was negotiated and finalized by RJJ Boxing CEO/Co-Founder Keith Veltre and Taku Nagashima, the international manager of Ioka, on behalf of TLAROCK Entertainment in Japan.

After Palicte, 28, knocked out his previously unbeaten Puerto Rican opponent Jose “Chiquiro” Martinez this past January 31st in the second round of their WBO title eliminator, the WBO ordered negotiations to begin for a rematch between reigning WBO junior bantamweight champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and Palicte, the No. 1-ranked, mandatory challenger. Nietes, however, relinquished his title belt rather than accept a rematch against his fellow Filipino fighter in order to pursue other fights.

Nietes and Palicte fought to a controversial 12-round draw last September for the then vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title. Nietes eventually captured the crown last December 31 in Macao, China, when he won a 12-round split decision versus, ironically, Ioka.

“I’d first like to thank my promoters (Keith Veltre & Roy Jones, Jr.) and manager (Jason Soong) for making this fight happen,” Palicte commented. “I’m very excited for this second opportunity to fight for a world title. I and the whole team learned a lot from the last draw and made adjustments, which, I think, were very effective. Since a rematch with Nietes will probably never take place, going against Ioka, who lost to him via a split decision, is probably the closest thing to redeeming myself after that draw. We’ve already planned out our training camp, which includes altitude training in Baguio (where Manny Pacquiao (pictured to left running with Palicte) also trained before). More than anything, I’m very excited to get into the ring again to hopefully deliver to my RJJ Boxing family its first world title.”

The 30-year-old Ioka, currently ranked No. 2 by the WBO, is a former World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight, WBA light flyweight, and WBA/World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight world champion. His only two losses as a professional, both by way of 12-round split decisions, have been in world title fights to Nietes and Amnat Ruenroeng, in 2014, for the International (IBF) flyweight title.

“I want to thank the WBO for working with us to make this fight happen,” Veltresaid. “The WBO did everything possible to make this deal move forward. I want to thank Team Ioka for working with Roy Jones Jr Promotions, in addition to being professional and doing everything in their power to accommodate us. This is a great example of everyone giving in a little bit to make a great fight happen. Roy and I are extremely happy that we will be able to bring the first ever major World Title Fight to UFC Fight Pass and we are looking forward to seeing Aston Palicte becoming the World Champion.”

Palicte is the younger, stronger fighter in this title fight match-up, however, Iota has a clear advantage in terms of experience with a 14-2 (9 KOs) world title fight record, as well as 6-2 (3 KOs) versus present and/or past world champions, compared to Palicte’s 0-0-1 mark in both of these categories.

Not only will a victory over Ioka make him the first world champion for his promoter, RJJ Boxing, Palicte will also join Pacquaio and Nietes, as well as Pancho Villa, Flash Elorde, and Nonito Donaire, among others, in an elite club of Filipino world boxing champion.

Ioka will join fellow Japanese fighters such as flyweight Kosei Tanaka and junior flyweights Hirota Kyoguchi and Ken Shiro as reigning world champions with a triumph over Palicte.

The Ring magazine’s independent world ratings lists Ioka and Palicte, respectively, at No. 4 and No. 8.

|||

DONNIE NIETES OUTPOINTS KAZUTO IOKA BY SPLIT DECISION, WINS WBO JUNIOR BANTAM TITLE

Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., and now Donnie Nietes.

Nietes joins a short list of Filipino boxers to have world titles in at least four divisions, capping off 2018 with a split decision victory over Kazuto Ioka to win the vacant WBO junior bantamweight title at the Wynn Palace Cotai in Macau.

Two judges scored the fight for Nietes, 118-110 and 116-112, while the third had it 116-112 for Ioka, whose own bid to become a four-division champion was foiled in the defeat.

Nietes, 36, of Murcia, Philippines controlled the fight early on, walking Ioka into counterpunches with his uppercut and right hand. Ioka, 29, of Osaka, Japan made the adjustment of moving in the fifth round, forcing the fighter known as “Ahas”, or Snake, to come forward. The adjustment paid off as Nietes, who had been pinpoint accurate early on, began falling short with his counters and Ioka took advantage of his speed edge and landed to the body.

Nietes began finding his range again in the eleventh as Ioka stayed in close and traded more, giving Nietes opportunities to land with his right hand and hook.

Donnie Nietes has done it! Nietes wins a split decision over Kazuto Ioka by scores of 118-110 and 116-112, while the third has it 116-112 for Ioka. Nietes joins Pacquiao and Donaire as the only Filipino boxers to win world titles in 4 weight classes

With the win, Nietes (42-1-5, 23 knockouts) adds to his belt collection which includes the WBO titles at 105 and 108 pounds, the Ring title at 108, and the IBF belt at 112 pounds. The victory concludes off a breakout year for Nietes which started with him making his HBO debut in his 18th year as a professional, and making it to the Ring pound-for-pound list, where he’s currently ranked no. 10.

Nietes had been denied the 115-pound title in his first attempt with a controversial draw against Aston Palicte in September.

Ioka (23-2, 13 KOs) loses for the first time in four years, snapping a nine-fight winning streak after his loss, also by split decision, to Amnat Ruenroeng.

BY RYAN SONGALIA / Philip Fong, AFP
https://www.ringtv.com/551849-donnie-nietes-outpoints-kazuto-ioka-by-split-decision-wins-wbo-junior-bantam-title/

||

BOXING sensation Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes of Negros Occ. will face Kazuto Ioka of Japan for the WBO world Jr. Bantamweight belt in Macau on New Year’s eve.

According to Nietes’ promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA Boxing Promotions, the world title fight between Nietes and Ioka is “a done deal.”

The native of Murcia, Negros Occidental holds an impressive win-loss-draw card of 41-1-5 (including 23 knockout wins) while the 29-year-old Ioka sports a 23-1-0 record with 13 stoppage victories

“It won’t be an easy fight either way, but Donnie (Nietes) has always been confident. He has beaten everyone, including world champions,” Aldeguer said in an interview with Ring TV.

He added that Ioka is a bigger name who comes from a respected country like Japan.

But Aldeguer said Nietes wants the biggest fights out there (instead of fighting a fellow Filipino) and this fight (with Ioka) is a step toward that.

Nietes failed to get his fourth world title after a split draw with fellow Negrense Aston Palicte in their world super flyweight bout in California two months ago.

https://thedailyguardian.net/sports/nietes-to-face-japanese-boxer-in-macau-match/

|||

Championship & Rating Committees Information on Munguía, Dogboe, Nietes, Ioka and More; Japan to Host Next WBO Convention

Hogan named mandatory challenger for Munguia

In a huge development for boxing fans in Australia, popular junior middleweight contender Dennis Hogan (27-1-1, 7 KOs), the #1 ranked contender at 154 pounds, has unanimously been approved to be named the mandatory contender for undefeated WBO champion Jaime Munguia. However, his status is contingent on him winning his next scheduled fight in Australia against Jaime Weetch (12-2, 5 KOs) on December 15 in Australia.

“Dennis has defended his title, the Oriental Title and the Intercontinental title, and he fought three fighters in the WBO top 15,” commented Matt Rose, who spoke on behalf of Hogan.

WBO orders top four jr bantams to settle vacant title

There are always winners and losers in boxing and unfortunately for hard-hitting junior bantamweight Aston Palicte, he came out short in his quest to get an immediate rematch with countryman Donnie Neites. Palicte and Nietes fought to a twelve round draw last month in a fight for the vacant WBO 115-pound title, a fight that ended in a draw. Roy Jones Jr. Boxing representative Guy Taylor, who was there to represent Palicte, was hopeful that an immediate rematch might have been ordered but discovered that Nietes already signed to fight #3 ranked contender Kazuto Ioka in a fight that was subsequently approved to be for the vacant title.

Taylor’s request to have Palicte fight the winner as a mandatory was also not approved, with the WBO encouraging a matchup between Palicte and WBO #4 ranked Jose Martinez in an elimination fight with the winner getting the mandatory position for the title. Nonetheless although Taylor was visibly disappointed he also expressed confident that Palicte would emerge as world champion when the dust settled.

Navarette named mandatory for Dogboe

Undefeated WBO Jr. Featherweight champion Isaac Dogboe’s upcoming fight with #2 ranked Emanuel Navarette on December 8 had been declared a mandatory defense, a move that gives Dogboe more flexibility in regards to a subsequent title defense assuming he wins against Navarette. With the fight declared a mandatory title defense Dogboe will have nine months after the Navarette fight before he will be required to make a subsequent mandatory title defense. This also opens up the possible world title fight in Ghana in 2019 by giving Team Dogboe more flexibility in solidifying the proposed homecoming. The current #1 contender is Diego De La Hoya, who reportedly did not object to the move.

“I talked to Golden Boy (promoters of De La Hoya) and they agreed.” Dogboe advisor Mike Altamura said of the #1 contender.

Glowacki-Vladov now for WBO cruiser interim title

For Hungarian contender Irme Szello and Sherman based cruiserweight Firat Arslan, the World Boxing Super Series has proved to be a bit of a bitter pill to swallow after they were again shut out of a potential world title fight.

WBO Junior Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who was slated to fight #1 ranked Tony Bellew, and there was little question that a victory could result in him moving up to the heavyweight division. However, an email request for Chris Meyer of the World Boxing Super Series proved problematic for the two European fighters. Meyer proposed moving the #5 ranked Maxim Vlasov to #1 or #2 and requesting that the WBO approve the Upcoming tournament fight between Vlsov and #2 ranked Krzysztof Glowacki be for the Interim title. It was a proposal that drew fierce opposition from Erik Ceylon of ECB Boxing, who was there to represent #3 ranked Firat Arslan.

“Why not give Arslan the mandatory?” Arslan asked.

His position was supported by WBO Vice President of Europe Istvan Kovacs.

“Both of these guys (#3 ranked Arslan and #4 ranked Imre Szello) have been standing in line for a while,” Kovacs said. “Both of them guys are very old. If you are talking of Vlasov I think he is less deserving then these other two guys.”

However, President Valcarcel stressed that the WBO continues to support unification fights and tournaments like the WBSS.

“The unification supersedes the mandatory,” Valcarcel said.

In the end the board voted in favor of the request by Meyer in classifying the Vlasov-Glowacki fight as a fight for the interim title. Kovacs did hold his ground however and voted against the proposal.

WBO declares elimination fight at the Mini-Flyweight Division

WBO Mini-Flyweight champion Vic Saludar (18-3, 10 KOs), the popular Filipino brawler who won the world title back in July, will soon know who his first title defense will come against. On December 7 NABO champion Wilfredo Mendez, the #7 ranked mini-flyweight, will step into the ring against the #1 ranked WBO contender Robert Paradero in a bout that the WBO has just announced will be established as the mandatory challenger for Mendez (11-1, 4 KOs) will be fighting in front of his hometown crowd but the undefeated Paradero (17-0, 11 KOs) has remained at #1 for over a year and is widely regarded as one of the most attractive prospects out of the Philippines. The winner will be named the mandatory challenger for Saludar.

On the other hand, the representative of the Japanese Boxing Commission Tsuyoshi Yasukochi, asked the WBO to hold the next Convention in Tokyo, Japan. The request was approved by the WBO through the members of the Executive Committee and they chose Puerto Rico as a second option in case it is canceled.

By David Finger / Fightnews.com

||||||