Donnie Nietes of the Philippines (L) fights against Kazuto Ioka of Japan (R) during their WBO super flyweight championship boxing bout in Macau on December 31, 2018. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Donnie Nietes is set for a rematch against Japanese Kazuto Ioka for the World Boxing Organization junior bantamweight title on July 13 at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.
Probellum announced the renewal of rivalry on Wednesday as the Filipino fighter seeks to reclaim the belt he earned in 2018 that he relinquished soon after the fight.
The fight will be promoted by SANKYO: LIFETIME BOXING FIGHTS 9.
CONFIRMED. Donnie Nietes be Kazuto Ioka | WBO world junior bantamweight title. Details: https://t.co/k11pSakuz3 pic.twitter.com/Ni31ZmHrd7
— Probellum_News (@Probellum_News) June 2, 2022
“This was the fight I wanted the most and I am incredibly eager to win back my world title,” Nietes said. “I have been in training since February for this fight but I really stepped up my levels when I knew it was confirmed.”
The former four-weight champion, who won world titles at minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight and up at 115lbs, is eager to assert his mastery of Ioka, whom he beat via split decision in their first meeting last December 31, 2018.
“This rematch makes me excited and when I vacated the title in 2018 it was always in my mind that I would, one day, win it back. On July 13, that dream will become a reality,” he said.
The 40-year-old boxer, who holds a 43-1-6 record with 23 knockouts, returned to action April last year, beating Pablo Carillo via unanimous decision. But he settled for a split draw against Norbelto Jimenez last December.
However, Ioka, who has a 28-2 card with 15 KOs, won five straight matches since losing to Nietes. He beat his fellow Japanese Ryoji Fukunaga last December 31.
“Donnie is a boxing legend and a sure-fire Hall of Fame inductee in the future. But his career is far from over, there is plenty left in the tank and when he travels to Japan and rips the world title from Kazuto Ioka on July 13, it will rank as the greatest victory of his remarkable career,” Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum, said.
“What a story it would be for Nietes to recapture the title he first won almost four years ago, and to achieve that in a great champion’s backyard, would make it even more special.”