Kosei Tanaka vs Kasuto Ioka

A big domestic Japanese clash, between two of their current best, on December 31st. Anyone watching this? What are your predictions? Likely to be a good scrap.

 

I've really fallen off the wagon in terms of how many current fighters I know, and that doesn't dawn on me until I come to here or ESB .

I spend so much time watching old fights, and that I've fallen out of touch with the present .

Tanaka looks impressive on film. I've never seen Ioka. What's the breakdown on him?

Will it be on DAZN? If so, i'll watch live. If not, I'm sure it'll be on YouTube shortly thereafter and I'll watch.

Thanks for making me aware of it.

 

Ioka is a skilled, solid fighter, and as a current fighter is approaching a 'veteran' status in terms of experience and skill. Skilled in textbook offense and ring generalship. He is marketed as a '4 weight champion', though 2 are basically paper or debatable. He does have a strong resume however, with wins over fighters like Yaegashi (in his prime), Revecco and Arroyo. He had a close loss with Nietes. He also had a good win recently over Palicte. Tanaka is moving up again for this one, and has questionable defense despite his talent, so I think Ioka will take over after a rough start and possibly stop him.

I don't know where it is airing. Hopefully it is like the other Japanese matches and is being officially streamed on youtube.

And like you, I haven't really been following the current boxing lately, outside of big names and some current favs. This one was announced ages ago and it stuck in my mind.

Here's some highlights with some recent fights. Hanza has one but it's 5 years old.

 

Alright, so a question about Japanese boxing. Harada remains the greatest Japanese fighter of all time. Where does Inoue currently rank on the list of Japanese greats in your opinion, and what would he have to do so someday surpass Harada?

 

I am absolutely watching. It'll be brilliant. I actually am inclined to go with Tanaka.

Me and Rough had a conversation about the best Japs ever recently. I think we agreed that Oba, Jiro and Ebihara definitely rank higher. Shibata too IIRC. I'd have Kuniaki above Inoue as of now. Hasegawa and Tatsuyoshi may well have been more talented too, if not as good.

 

@Xplosive, if you haven't seen it. Definitely check out Tanaka vs Kimura. It's a great, great fight.

 

Speaking of Ohba, check MMs.

 

Well, to surpass Harada he would have to do some mental stuff IMO, like unifying 118 and then dominating 122 as well, maybe even winning straps at 126. I'm not denigrating Inoue, but Harada is just a legend period, with some ridiculous performances - and the fact he should have a win over Famechon makes him even greater in my own personal opinion.

In regards to the other 9 positions, Japan has some very underrated fighters alongside the usual. I won't make a tiered list, but names that come to mind when considering Inoue as a comparison are: Shirai, Ebihara, Shibata, Ohba, Watanabe, Hasegawa, Gushiken, alongside underrated fighters with good achievements such as: Wajima, Oguma, Naito, Ishimatsu, Tatsuyoshi, Kobayashi etc

The first list are all likely top 10 (with Hasegawa definitely being the most debatable), that is up to 8 possible spots filled. From the other list, Wajima and Oguma could also qualify. I think Inoue does have a good argument for top 10 already, but not as strong as some people think - however, I think I may be in the minority in having Inoue possibly that low on the list.

 

Also, Shojo Saizo is another that should be considered. He is very underated - has a good win over Raul Rojas and made 5 defenses at 126.

 

Saizo put on a clinic in the Rojas fight.

Is there a reason why rounds, I think like 8-11, are missing from that fight? They seem missing on every online version, including on Asian Boxing, which has the most comprehensive library.

 

I honestly wouldn't know. Maybe it could be a Jofre situation where footage was destroyed? Most likely it was either lost or never released in full.

 

Were you the one who compared Siazo to Arguello in style? Cause in many ways, he was like Arguello, minus the booming power.

 

I don't think it was me , but he definitely fits that mold.

 

Their stance and technique are extremely similar. Just a big gap in power and chin.

 

I remember reading that Japanese Boxing was massively influenced by american technique (which is obvious given circumstances) but in particular by this one trainer from around the 70s onwards. He was a half Japanese - half American, and a lot of the top of Japan had, at one point or another, been trained by him. I can't remember his name though.

 

His name was Eddie Townsend.

Eddie Townsend - Wikipedia

 

Will do!

 

Tanaka And Ioka Look To Provide The New Year's Eve Fireworks

Looks like ESPN will offer a Spanish telecast in the States for this one. I'll try to watch, but not gonna lie, it's gonna be difficult considering its New Years Eve.

I'll likely just have to depend on someone uploading it to YT, which I'm sure will happen quickly. Or rewatch it on ESPN the next day, if it's available.

 

Japan is 17 hours ahead of me

 

I just watched Tanaka vs Wulan Tuolehazi.

Tanaka is quite good, though not as talented and powerful as Inoue.

I'm thinking his youth and talent gives him the edge this week.

 

If you haven't seen Tanaka vs Kimura, then you have to watch it.

 

Hoping to this fight becomes a barnburner. This is definitely a matchup for the purists that only a couple fans know of. I only wish that I didn't decide to make plans for the New Year.

 

Good thing for UK lads like me that it's as 9AM . Tanaka is a talent, but I have a slight feeling Ioka will outveteran him.

Also, Ioka is the nephew of world champion Hiroki Ioka, who bested Myung Woo Yuh, in case anyone cared.

 

I was looking at the name, and wondering if there was a connection. Thanks for confirming it.

 

Im reading a main event start time for this at 1:14am PST. so in 11 hours?

 

I've resigned to the fact that I'll just have to catch it on YouTube.

Sorry for not being overly familiar with either. I've been in full old fight mode since the pandemic started, and my knowledge on all but my main stream current guys is lacking nowadays.

I'm pulling for Tanaka, because I ALWAYS pull for youth - its what the sport needs.

 

SPOILER






Damn, what a lovely, lovely counter. Absolutely out on his feet. Tanaka's youth and massive talent were not enough to make up against the vast experience and well schooled skills of Ioka. Tanaka's defense in particular was a liability - Ioka was aiming for that counter from the very start. Top fight, and Ioka was troubled, but experience saved the day.

Also, @Xplosive :

 

Damn, will have to watch a full version on YouTube! And catch up on a ton of Ioka fights.

BTW, I see that Diago Higa was in action. I've seen Higa before - devastating puncher. One of the biggest punchers in the sport.

 

It's already on YouTube, fellas. I'll watch it later on today, and provide my thoughts.

 

Just got finished watching this fight. What a great fight between the veteran against the rising star. Tanaka looked good early on but ended up getting sloppy once Ioka started finding his mark with the left. Ioka showed his experience and it ultimately won him the fight. Hoping Tanaka comes back stronger after this fight, no shame in losing to a bad MF like Ioka.
As for Ioka, hoping to see him with the likes of Chocolatito, Gallo, SSR, Ancajas. The guy has plenty of great fights ahead of him.