Kosei Tanaka & Kazuto Ioka To Fight on the Same Card
At a November 19 press conference in Nagoya, Japan, Kosei Tanaka announced he’s returning to the ring on December 31. He will make the 3rd defense of the WBO World Flyweight title against Wulan Toulehazi of China at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Tanaka (14-0, 8 KO’s) was unsatisfied with last performance, a seventh-round stoppage win over then mandatory challenger Jonathan Gonzalez on August 24th. As a result, Tanaka told the media he will be in top form and is looking to win by knockout.
Toulehazi (13-3, 6 KO’s) is only ranked 12th by the WBO at flyweight. However, he is not a fighter to sleep on. For the 26-year-old, this will be his fourth fight of 2019. He brings a rough and rugged style that could cause present some problems for the talented world champion.
On the same card, Kazuto Ioka (24-2-1, 14 KO’s) makes the first defense of the WBO World Super Flyweight title. His opponent will be mandatory challenger Jeyvier Cintron (11-0, 5 KO’s).
What’s interesting here is that both Tanaka and Ioka are fighting on the same card. For one, Tanaka has expressed interest in moving up to super flyweight. Also, rumors have been swirling in the Japanese boxing circles that the two will fight at some point.
Providing both champions successfully defend their titles, could this end of the year boxing event be a prelude to an Ioka – Tanaka super flyweight super fight in 2020?
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
