is a Japanese former
professional boxer
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional bouts are supervised by a regulatory autho ...
who competed from 1986 to 1999. He has held world championships in two
weight classes
Weight classes are divisions of competition used to match competitors against others of their own size. Weight classes are used in a variety of sports, especially combat sports (such as boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and wrestling). Altern ...
, having held the
WBC
WBC may stand for:
Business
*Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS
*Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company
*Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...
mini-flyweight title from 1987 to 1988, and the
WBA light-flyweight
Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a Weight class (boxing), weight class in boxing.
Professional boxing
The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York (s ...
title from 1991 to 1992. He was the first ever WBC mini flyweight champion, winning the title immediately after the mini-flyweight division was created.
Biography
Ioka entered the Miwa Tsuda Gym (current Green Tsuda Gym) while attending middle school, and made his professional debut in 1986 at the age of 17. He won the Japanese
mini-flyweight title in his eighth professional fight in 1987, and fought for the newly created
WBC
WBC may stand for:
Business
*Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS
*Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company
*Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...
mini-flyweight title the same year, winning by unanimous decision to become the youngest Japanese boxer to win a world title, at 18 years and 9 months old. This record remains unbroken today.
Ioka made his first defense against
IBF
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...
mini-flyweight champion Kyung-Yun Lee in January, 1988, winning by knockout in the 12th round.
Ioka's trainer,
Eddie Townsend
Edward "Eddie" Townsend (October 5, 1914 – February 1, 1988) was an American professional boxing trainer.
He is revered in Japan for training several boxing world champions. An award given to boxing trainers was established in his honor and ...
, was in the hospital during the fight, and died shortly after hearing that Ioka had won. Ioka made his second defense in June, 1988, against
Napa Kiatwanchai
Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) province, Thailand.
Boxing career
He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Thailand and turned professional in 1987. The next ...
of
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
, retaining his title by a 12-round draw. The fight was highly controversial, as Kiatwanchai's side claimed that the last round was ended almost 30 seconds early in order to make the fight a draw. Ioka had almost been knocked out by Kiatwanchai in the final round. Ioka was ordered to have a rematch with Kiatwanchai for his third defense in December, 1988, and lost his title by 12-round decision. Ioka fought Kiatwanchai again in June, 1989, for his former title, but lost again by TKO in the 11th round.
Ioka moved up to the
light flyweight
Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a weight class in boxing.
Professional boxing
The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York legalized boxing in 1920 ...
division, and challenged undefeated champion
Myung-Woo Yuh
Yuh Myung-woo (, born January 10, 1964) is a South Korean former professional boxer who competed between 1982 and 1993. He was a two-time WBA light-flyweight champion, having held the title between 1985 and 1993. He, together with Jung-Koo Ch ...
, for the
WBA light-flyweight
Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a Weight class (boxing), weight class in boxing.
Professional boxing
The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York (s ...
title in December, 1991. Ioka won a close split-decision victory, and defended his title twice in 1992. He met Yuh again in his third defense of the title in November, 1992, but lost by decision, losing his title.
Ioka moved up to the flyweight division in 1993, aiming to win titles in three weight classes, but lost to
David Griman
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
in Round 8 of the WBA
flyweight
Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing above 49 kg (108 lb) and up to 51 kg (112 lb).
Professional boxing
The flyweight division was the last of bo ...
title match. He would challenge the WBA Flyweight title two more times, losing by TKO both times, and challenged WBA
super-flyweight Super flyweight, also referred to as junior bantamweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from and up to .
History
The first title match in this division was in 1980, when the World Boxing Council responded to pressure from Asi ...
champion Satoshi Iida in April, 1998, losing by 12-round decision. In December of that year, Ioka lost a 10-round non-title match to an unranked fighter, and decided to retire from boxing. The unranked fighter was
Masamori Tokuyama
is a Japanese-born Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2006. He held the WBC super-flyweight title twice between 2000 and 2006.
Because of his affiliation with North Korea and his experience traveling to the country, he h ...
, who would later defend the
WBC
WBC may stand for:
Business
*Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS
*Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company
*Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...
super-flyweight Super flyweight, also referred to as junior bantamweight, is a weight class in professional boxing, contested from and up to .
History
The first title match in this division was in 1980, when the World Boxing Council responded to pressure from Asi ...
title nine times. Ioka's career record was 33-8-1 (17KOs).
Post retirement
He currently trains and manages young fighters at the Ioka Boxing Gym (Ioka Promotions), and appears on local television shows from time to time.
In 2000, Ioka fought a 14-year-old Koki Kameda in a two-round exhibition match, which was broadcast as part of a television documentary on the Kameda family. Kameda was training at the Green Tsuda Gym at the time, where Ioka trained for much of his career. Kameda scored a knockdown on the former two division title holder from a left straight and right hook combination, but the referee ruled it as a slip. The fight ended up as a two-round draw decision. Kameda would go on to controversially win one of Ioka's former titles; the WBA light-flyweight title.
His nephew,
Kazuto Ioka
is a Japanese professional boxer. He is the first male Japanese boxer and fourth Asian to be a four-weight world champion, having held the unified WBA and WBC mini-flyweight titles between 2011 and 2012, the WBA (Regular) light-flyweight tit ...
, has won six amateur boxing titles, and is a
four-weight world champion, having held the
WBA and
WBC
WBC may stand for:
Business
*Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS
*Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company
*Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...
mini-flyweight titles between 2011 and 2012, the
WBA light-flyweight title between 2012 and 2014, and the WBA flyweight title between 2015 and 2017. He currently holds the WBO super-flyweight title.
Professional boxing record
{, class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"
, -
!
!Result
!Record
!Opponent
!Type
!Round, time
!Date
!Location
!Notes
, - align=center
, 42
, Loss, , 33–8–1, , align=left,
Masamori Tokuyama
is a Japanese-born Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 2006. He held the WBC super-flyweight title twice between 2000 and 2006.
Because of his affiliation with North Korea and his experience traveling to the country, he h ...
, TKO
, 5 (10),
, 1998–12–19
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 41
, Win, , 33–7–1, , align=left, Jerry Pahayahay
, PTS
, 10
, 1998–09–03
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 40
, Loss, , 32–7–1, , align=left, Satoshi Iida
, MD
, 12
, 1998–04–29
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 39
, Win, , 32–6–1, , align=left, Hidekazu Sakata
, TKO
, 9 (10),
, 1998–02–03
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 38
, Win, , 31–6–1, , align=left, Pinoy Montejo
, UD
, 10
, 1997–11–18
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 37
, Loss, , 30–6–1, , align=left,
José Bonilla
, TKO
, 7 (12),
, 1997–02–25
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 36
, Win, , 30–5–1, , align=left, Hiroki Shinozaki
,
, 4 (10),
, 1996–10–18
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 35
, Win, , 29–5–1, , align=left, Ricky Sales
, PTS
, 12
, 1996–06–03
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 34
, Win, , 28–5–1, , align=left, Joel Nice
, KO
, 2 (10),
, 1996–03–31
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 33
, Loss, , 27–5–1, , align=left,
Saen Sor Ploenchit
Saen Sor Ploenchit ( th, แสน ส.เพลินจิต, born May 18, 1971) is a Thai former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 2003. He held the WBA flyweight title from 1994 to 1996.
Early life
Sor Ploenchit was born as Som ...
, TKO
, 10 (12),
, 1995–10–17
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 32
, Win, , 27–4–1, , align=left, Kim Dong-Soo
, TKO
, 4 (10),
, 1995–05–09
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 31
, Win, , 26–4–1, , align=left, Lee Escobido
, UD
, 10
, 1995–01–10
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 30
, Win
, 25–4–1
, align=left, Triffon Torralba
, KO
, 4 (10),
, 1994–06–27
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 29
, Win, , 24–4–1, , align=left, David Franco
, KO
, 5 (10),
, 1994–04–13
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 28
, Win, , 23–4–1, , align=left, John Medina
, TKO
, 6 (10),
, 1993–11–08
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 27
, Loss, , 22–4–1, , align=left,
David Griman
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
, TKO
, 8 (12),
, 1993–06–21
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 26
, Win, , 22–3–1, , align=left, Ronnie Romero
, KO
, 2 (10),
, 1993–01–29
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 25
, Loss, , 21–3–1, , align=left, Yuh Myung-Woo
, MD
, 12
, 1992–11–18
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 24
, Win, , 21–2–1, , align=left, Kim Bong-Jun
, UD
, 12
, 1992–06–15
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 23
, Win, , 20–2–1, , align=left, Noel Tunacao
, UD
, 12
, 1992–03–31
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 22
, Win, , 19–2–1, , align=left, Yuh Myung-Woo
, SD
, 12
, 1991–12–17
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 21
, Win, , 18–2–1, , align=left, Katsumi Komiyama
, KO
, 5 (10),
, 1991–06–27
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 20
, Win, , 17–2–1, , align=left, Kenji Tezuka
, PTS
, 10
, 1991–04–05
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 19
, Win, , 16–2–1, , align=left, Max Forrosuelo
, UD
, 10
, 1991–01–17
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 18
, Win, , 15–2–1, , align=left, Jaime Aliguin
, PTS
, 10
, 1990–11–24
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 17
, Win, , 14–2–1, , align=left, Salagchit Sorchitphatana
, UD
, 10
, 1990–07–16
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 16
, Win, , 13–2–1, , align=left, John Ireng
, KO
, 9 (10),
, 1990–04–09
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 15
, Win, , 12–2–1, , align=left, Udin Barahudin
, UD
, 10
, 1990–01–29
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 14
, Loss, , 11–2–1, , align=left,
Napa Kiatwanchai
Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) province, Thailand.
Boxing career
He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Thailand and turned professional in 1987. The next ...
, TKO
, 11 (12),
, 1989–06–10
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 13
, Win, , 11–1–1, , align=left, Hidekazu Kakehashi
, KO
, 2 (10),
, 1989–02–08
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 12
, Loss, , 10–1–1, , align=left,
Napa Kiatwanchai
Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) province, Thailand.
Boxing career
He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Thailand and turned professional in 1987. The next ...
, MD
, 12
, 1988–11–13
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 11
, style="background:#abcdef;", Draw, , 10–0–1, , align=left,
Napa Kiatwanchai
Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) province, Thailand.
Boxing career
He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Thailand and turned professional in 1987. The next ...
, PTS
, 12
, 1988–06–05
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 10
, Win, , 10–0, , align=left,
Kyung-Yung Lee
, TKO
, 12 (12),
, 1988–01–31
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 9
, Win, , 9–0, , align=left, Mai Thomburifarm
, UD
, 12
, 1987–10–18
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 8
, Win, , 8–0, , align=left, Kenji Ono
, PTS
, 10
, 1987–07–08
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 7
, Win, , 7–0, , align=left, Akira Kiyono
, PTS
, 8
, 1987–04–28
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 6
, Win, , 6–0, , align=left, Hisashi Nakatomi
, TKO
, 1 (6)
, 1987–02–22
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 5
, Win, , 5–0, , align=left, Dash Higashiho
, TKO
, 2 (4),
, 1986–10–07
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 4
, Win, , 4–0, , align=left, Masao Kasai
, PTS
, 4
, 1986–09–13
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 3
, Win, , 3–0, , align=left, Osamu Uemoto
, KO
, 2 (4),
, 1986–03–05
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 2
, Win, , 2–0, , align=left, Hiroshi Udo
, KO
, 2 (4),
, 1986–02–10
, align=left,
, align=left,
, - align=center
, 1
, Win, , 1–0, , align=left, Yukio Yorimochi
, KO
, 3 (4),
, 1986–01–23
, align=left,
, align=left,
See also
*
List of WBA world champions
This is a list of WBA world champions, showing every world champion certified by the World Boxing Association (WBA). The list also includes champions certified by the National Boxing Association (NBA), the predecessor to the WBA.
Boxers who won t ...
*
List of WBC world champions
This is a list of WBC world champions, showing every world champion certificated by the World Boxing Council (WBC). The WBC is one of the four major governing bodies in professional boxing, and certifies world champions in 18 different weight cla ...
*
List of Japanese boxing world champions
This is a list of Japanese boxing world champions who have won major world titles from the "Big four" Sports governing body, governing bodies in professional boxing namely the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC), Internation ...
*
Boxing in Japan
The history of boxing in Japan began in 1854 when Matthew C. Perry, Matthew Perry landed at Shimoda, Shizuoka soon after the Convention of Kanagawa. At that time, American sailors often engaged in sparring matches on board their ships, with thei ...
References
External links
*
Ioka boxing gym official (Japanese)
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ioka, Hiroki
1969 births
Living people
Sportspeople from Sakai, Osaka
World Boxing Association champions
World Boxing Council champions
Mini-flyweight boxers
World mini-flyweight boxing champions
World light-flyweight boxing champions
Japanese male boxers