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Kazuto Ioka vs Kosei Tanaka Odds and Picks

Dylan Bowker

by Dylan Bowker in Boxing

Updated Dec 28, 2020 · 8:46 AM PST

Ioka vs Tanaka
Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka throw down on New Year's Eve but only one can emerge as the WBO world super flyweight champion
  • Kazuto Ioka vs Kosei Tanaka goes Thursday, December 31st at 5 AM EST
  • When the dust settles in the main event, who will be the WBO world super flyweight champion?
  • Check out the fight odds, analysis, and predictions below

Kazuto Ioka and Kosei Tanaka will close out 2020 throwing down at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Ioka vs Tanaka broadcasts on Box Nation.

The WBO world super flyweight championship is on the line here with Ioka and Tanaka in the roles of champion, and challenger, respectively.

Kazuto Ioka vs Kosei Tanaka Main Card Odds

Fighter Odds
Kosei Tanaka -155
Kazuto Ioka +125
Fighter Odds
Daigo Higa  -550
Yuki Strong Kobayashi +375

Odds as of Dec. 28

Both of these Queensberry Rules warriors last competed on the annual New Year’s Eve event one year ago.

The NYE tradition in Japan of combat sports entertainment will now lead to Ioka vs Tanaka and this 2020 bout has tremendous historical significance for the Japanese boxing scene.

Ioka was the first boxer from the land of the rising sun to hold gold in four divisions, Tanaka has a chance to join that same company here, and international fight fans are chomping at the bit for these two to step through those ropes.

Kosei Tanaka’s Chance to Make History

Kosei Tanaka looks to accomplish this fourth world championship in a fourth weight class feat within just sixteen professional fights.

This has never been done so quickly, with the closest being Oscar De La Hoya – who captured belts in four divisions in his 24th pro bout.

Much is made of modern names like Claressa Shields and Lomachenko capturing belts in multiple divisions in short order, understandably so, but this would be an unprecedented feat should Kazuto Tanaka get the desired result in a few days.

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Kosei Tanaka is at an experience disadvantage in this bout, but Tanaka arguably has the momentum edge as he enters this bout with an unblemished pro record. It is remarkable to consider that ten of Tanaka’s 16 career fights have been in title bouts.

The mandatory challenger enters this bout on the heels of back to back stoppage victories and after logging the third defense of his WBO flyweight title before deciding to jump up to super flyweight.

Kazuto Ioka’s Road to NYE 2020

Ioka presents quite the stiff test here being that he is a veteran who has thrived in the world title picture for close to a decade.

HE looks to make the second defense of his WBO super flyweight world title and derail the momentum of the ballyhooed contender Tanaka.

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These 115 pounders are entering a high-stakes fight, but the winner will vault themselves to even bigger opportunities in the new year.

The victor in Ioka vs Tanaka could well jettison themselves towards a unification bout against one of the more high-profile world champions in their division.

Much has been made about the lack of domestic discussion surrounding this bout but the winner will become much more of an international presence and have greater visibility among casual fans.

Ioka vs Tanaka Tale of the Tape

Ioka
VS
Tanaka
25-2 Record 15-0
14 Knockouts 9
5’4.5 Height 5’4.5
65.5″ Reach 64.5″
Juan Carlos Reveco, Felix Alvarado, and McWilliams Arroyo Significant Wins Sho Kimura, Moises Fuentes, Angel Acosta
Orthodox Stance Orthodox

Though Ioka has a pair of defeats, he has never been finished and both losses were via split decision. I foresee the champion’s durability informing the outcome of this fight.

Ultimately, I see Tanaka maintaining his undefeated record, making history, and collecting yet another world title via decision.

Pick: Kosei Tanaka (-155)

Main Card Picks for Ioka vs Tanaka

  1. Daigo Higa vs Yuki Strong Kobayashi: Daigo Higa is looking to get back on track towards another flyweight world title after going 1-1-1 across his last three contests. Kobayashi enters this one with back to back victories to his credit but has lost thirty-three percent of his overall career fights. I think Higa gets it done here, maintains his one hundred percent knockout rate, and gets back to the win column via highlight reel (T)KO. Pick: Daigo Higa (-550)
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