Japanese great Kazuto Ioka entered the ring against Joshua Franco at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo carrying the hopes of a nation. He left it as the new WBA super flyweight champion of the world after posting a 12-round unanimous decision.
Ioka was in the unenviable – and strange – position of attempting to avenge a controversial draw to Franco in December. Juxtaposed alongside that, he was in against a younger and fresher fighter for the second time in two fights.
However, none of that mattered when Ioka imposed his experience and boxing skills on Franco.
There have been many great champions out of Japan over the decades, all following in the footsteps of the great Fighting Harada. However, the country has gone through a true renaissance period in more recent years. Terrific fighters such as Ioka, a four-weight world titleholder; Shinsuke Yamanaka, a long-reigning bantamweight champion; and current pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue have flown their country’s flag with pride.
MORE: Will we see Kazuto Ioka vs. Junto Nakatani?
The lower weights are replete with established superstars from The Land of the Rising Sun that are on or around the mythical pound-for-pound list. As well as that, we have a whole host of up-and-comers looking to take over in their respective divisions.
But who's the best right now?
The Sporting News now takes an in-depth look at Japan’s finest pound-for-pound fighters:
Boxing's pound-for-pound fighters from Japan
No. 5 Ginjiro Shigeoka
- Age: 23
- Record: 9-0 (7 KOs)
- Titles: Interim IBF minimumweight champion
Welcome to the future.
Shigeoka is nine fights and four years into his professional career and he is already rated No. 5 by The Ring at 105 pounds. An aggressive but offensively adept southpaw, Shigeoka has a cerebral style that belies his years. Many are convinced that the 23-year-old is the heir-apparent to Inoue and it sure looks that way. In his most recent outing, Shigeoka nailed Rene Mark Cuarto to the canvas with a single left hand to the midsection. Remember this kid’s name.
MORE: SN's top-12 female pound-for-pound list
No. 4 Junto Nakatani
- Age: 25
- Record: 25-0 (19 KOs)
- Titles: Reigning WBO super flyweight champion, former WBO flyweight champion
Nakatani, like Inoue, is a power-punching destroyer with quick hands and superb ring IQ. However, those weapons are bolstered by his southpaw stance and a 5ft 7ins frame, which is extremely tall for the lower weight classes. Nakatani made two successful defences of the flyweight crown before moving up to 115 pounds. It’s clear that his power went with him because, in May, he scored a spectacular one-punch knockout of Australian contender Andrew Moloney to win the vacant WBO super flyweight title.
He’s only 25 years old and already on the cusp of pound-for-pound recognition.
No. 3 Kenshiro Teraji
- Age: 31
- Record: 21-1 (13 KOs)
- Titles: Reigning WBA, WBC, and Ring Magazine light flyweight champion
The baby-faced Teraji transforms into an absolute devil in the prize ring. After claiming the WBC flyweight title in just his tenth fight, “The Amazing Boy” opted for a steep championship learning curve against the top contenders in his division. He improved at a rapid rate and is now far and away the best 108-pounder on the planet. There was a blip against Masamichi Yabuki, who handed Teraji a 10th-round stoppage defeat in 2021. However, the Japanese star bounced back to annihilate Yabuki inside three rounds, which proved to a small army of doubters that his first pro defeat was largely down to the aftereffects of a COVID-19 infection.
MORE: The Sporting News: Boxing top 12 pound-for-pound list
No. 2 Kazuto Ioka
- Age: 34
- Record: 30-2-1 (15 KOs)
- Titles: Reigning WBA super flyweight champion. Former WBA and WBC minimumweight champion, former WBA light flyweight champion, former WBA flyweight champion, former WBO super flyweight champion
The great Ioka was Japan’s first-ever male four-weight world champion. You could end the list of accolades right there, but we’re just getting started. The 34-year-old, has contested 24 world title fights and taken on a who’s who of elite-level opponents. Among his victims are Felix Alvarado (UD 12), Juan Carlos Reveco (MD 12, TKO 11), McWilliams Arroyo (UD 10), Aston Palicte (TKO 10), Kosei Tanaka (TKO 10), Donnie Nietes (UD 12). Defeating Franco has just added to what was already a very special legacy.
No. 1 Naoya Inoue
- Age: 30
- Record: 24-0 (21 KOs)
- Titles: Former WBC light flyweight champion, former WBO super flyweight champion, former undisputed bantamweight champion
Inoue is arguably the finest pound-for-pound fighter in the world today, and only unified heavyweight champ Oleksandr Usyk threatens him in that regard. A three-weight world champion, “The Monster” possesses a matchless blend of speed, power, and perfect technique. In his most recent bout, the Japanese hero became the first undisputed bantamweight champion in almost half a century.
If Inoue can defeat unbeaten unified super bantamweight titleholder Stephen Fulton on July 25, then he very well may eclipse Fighting Harada as his country’s greatest-ever world champion.