Boxing legend Kazuto Ioka will end 2023 with a WBA 115-pound title defense against Venezuela's Josber Perez (20-3,  18 KOs) on December 31st. As with his last fight, the Ota City General Gymnasium, in Tokyo will be the venue. Ioka won the title against Joshua Franco in June, which was vacant because the American failed to make weight. This was the second time that Franco and Kazuto met, the first fight ended in a draw at the end of last year. Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs) is 34 years old and is the only male Japanese boxer to win world titles in four weight classes.

 

Perez, a native of Miranda, Venezuela, will have the second title fight in his career. In his first time, he lost by unanimous decision to undefeated Ukrainian Artem Dalakian (22-0) in his quest for the WBA flyweight title. The 28-year-old Venezuelan is coming from winning his national super flyweight title by defeating Jose Farfan (11-4) by knockout in the third round. In the middle of the year, he also won by knockout against Rafael Hernandez (3-6) in the first round. Likewise, at the beginning of 2023 he won by knockout ov