Report: WBO Atomweight Champion To Defend Her Title In July

The WBO's first atomweight champion is getting ready to make her seventh title defense against a familiar foe this summer in Japan. 

Nao Ikeyama, the WBO champion since winning the title in 2014, is planning to make her return to the ring on July 29 according to Asian Boxing. Ikeyama will defend her title against Mika Iwakawa, who was Ikeyama's last opponent before Ikeyama fought and won the WBO title against Jessebelle Pagaduan.

Ikeyama not only holds the distinction of being the WBO's first world atomweight champion, but also is boxing's oldest world champion, regardless of gender, among the four governing bodies at 48 years old. After defeating Pagaduan to win the title, Ikeyama has made six successful defenses of her belt, fighting mostly in Japan and sporting a 4-0-2 record in world title defenses. Ikeyama is coming off a split draw against Saemi Hanagata in her last fight last July.

Iwakawa will be making her second world title challenge. Iwakawa unsuccessfully challenged for the WBA atomweight title when lost to Yunoka Furukawa in 2016 by majority decision. Sporting a 7-5-1 professional boxing record, Iwakawa has won two of her last three fights, including winning the OPBF women's light flyweight title.

The last time Ikeyama and Iwakawa fought each other, Ikeyama came out on top with a majority decision win in Osaka, Japan back in 2013. A venue and undercard fights have not been decided for the event though it is reported the card will take place in Kyoto.