Japan’s Hiroki Ioka scored a unanimous 12-round...
Japan’s Hiroki Ioka scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Thailand’s Mai Thonburifarm in Osaka, Japan, and became the first champion of the World Boxing Council’s new straw weight class.
The WBC set up the 105-pound straw weight division last month and ordered Mai and Ioka to fight for the first title. Ioka now will be required to defend his title against Lee Kyung-yung of South Korea.
Ioka weighed 104 and Thonburifarm 104 1/2.
It was Ioka’s ninth victory, including five knockouts, against no defeats and Mai’s second defeat against 18 victories, including three knockouts.
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