WBA Orders Flyweight World Title Match
The WBA's flyweight world champion, Kazuto Ioka, has been ordered to defend his title.
The governing body has ordered Ioka to defend his title against mandatory challenger Artem Dalakian. The mandatory defense is due by September 30 and if the two boxers cannot reach an agreement to have the fight by August 31, or else a purse bid will be ordered.
Ioka had been due for another title defense for some time as Ioka's last defense came in on December 31 last year while Dalakian, the current WBA Continental flyweight champion, last defended his title back in April. Both boxers have defended their titles several times.
The once-defeated Ioka is a three-division world champion, having held a world title at the strawweight and junior flyweight division, and a former Japanese junior flyweight national champion. Ioka last retained his WBA flyweight belt with a seventh-round stoppage over Stamp Kiatniwat. The win marked Ioka’s fourth defense of his title and seventh win overall since losing to Amnat Ruenrong in 2014.
Dalakian is 15-0 as a professional boxer with 11 KO, but has yet to step into world title contention until now. Dalakian also held the WBA's International title before winning the Continental title.
