WBO orders Donnie Nietes-Kazuto Ioka rematch

FILE–Donnie Nietes of Philippines exchanges blows with Kazuto Ioka of Japan during the WBO Super Flyweight Title Bout on December 31, 2018 in Macau, Macau. (Photo by Kevin Lee/Getty Images)

MANILA, Philippines — Donnie Nietes is set to take on World Boxing Organization junior bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka anew after the sanctioning body named him the mandatory challenger.

The 39-year-old Filipino boxer gets a title opportunity after the WBO ordered his rematch with the Japanese champion four years since Nietes beat Ioka for the vacant championship in the New Year’s eve of 2018.

“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations for the subject matter bout,” the WBO wrote.

“The parties herein have 30 days upon issuance of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement accordingly. If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, purse bid proceedings will be called per WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”

The organization also required a minimum bid amount of $100,000 for the upcoming Nietes-Ioka match.

Nietes, who owns a 43-1-6 record with 26 knockouts, last saw action against Norbelto Jimenez on December 11, 2021 in Dubai, where they ended up with a draw.