Amnat Ruenroeng retains IBF 112lb belt against two-class champ Kazuto Ioka
By Joe Koizumi
IBF flyweight titlist Amnat Ruenroeng (13-0, 5 KOs), 112, from Thailand, successfully retained his throne as he displayed superior speed and sharpness to control the contest all the way, winning a lopsided split decision (119-108, 115-113 and 113-114) over previously unbeaten Kazuto Ioka (14-1, 9 KOs), 112, Japan, over twelve fast rounds on Wednesday in Osaka, Japan.
Ioka, former WBC 105-pound and WBA 108-pound champ, failed to win his third belt in the 112-pound category in his fteenth pro bout. He suffered his first setback to the Thailander who he had been beaten on points in the Kings Cup amateur tournaments in 2008. Amnat, nine years his senior at 34, was a slick-punching footworker that took the initiative with whiplash counters in the opening session and maintained the pace all night. Ioka tried to come close to the shifty champ with a peek-a-boo guard, but Amnat, ex-Olympian, proved too elusive for him to catch up with
Amnat Ruenroeng retains IBF 112lb belt against two-class champ Kazuto Ioka
By Joe Koizumi
IBF flyweight titlist Amnat Ruenroeng (13-0, 5 KOs), 112, from Thailand, successfully retained his throne as he displayed superior speed and sharpness to control the contest all the way, winning a lopsided split decision (119-108, 115-113 and 113-114) over previously unbeaten Kazuto Ioka (14-1, 9 KOs), 112, Japan, over twelve fast rounds on Wednesday in Osaka, Japan.
Ioka, former WBC 105-pound and WBA 108-pound champ, failed to win his third belt in the 112-pound category in his fteenth pro bout. He suffered his first setback to the Thailander who he had been beaten on nts in the Kings Cup amateur tournaments in 2008. Amnat, nine years his senior at 34, was a slick-punching footworker that took the initiative with whiplash counters in the opening session and maintained the pace all night. Ioka tried to come close to the shifty champ with a peek-a-boo guard, but Amnat, ex-Olympian, proved too elusive for him to catch up with