MANILA, Philippines—Donnie Nietes captured the WBO World super flyweight title after edging past Japan’s Kazuto Ioka via split decision Monday at Wynn Palace in Macau.
This is Nietes’ fourth World title in as many weight classes after he reigned as the WBO World minimumweight, WBO World light flyweight, and the IBF World flyweight champion in the past.
In an absolute firecracker to usher in the new year, Nietes (42-1-5) traded punch after punch with Ioka (23-2) and eventually earned the nod of the two judges.
A couple of the judges gave Nietes 118-110 and 116-112 score cards while Ioka got a 116-112 nod from the third.
Ioka favored his jab to to connect with Nietes but the Filipino employed a varied offense against the Japanese.
Nietes used several combinations to cut down Ioka as the two let it all out until the final bell.