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Ioka retains WBC title with eighth professional victory

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor

Minimumweight champion out-points Mexican

Kazuto Ioka is still the WBC minimumweight title holder after a twelve round decision win over Juan Hernandez in Tokyo, Japan.

The 22 year-old, fighting in only his eighth contest, took a 118-111, 117-111, 116-112 on the three judges’ card to retain his belt at the Korakeun Hall in his first defence.

Ioka is the nephew of former two-weight world champion Hiroki Ioka, who retired in 1998 after claiming titles at minimumweight and light-flyweight. The youngster won the title in only his seventh fight in February stopping Oleydong Sithsamerchai in five rounds to break the Japanese record.

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